asked the Minister for Education the number of national schools in respect of which application has been made to her Department for designation as disadvantage if she will give a tabular statement of such applicant schools county by county; the year in which these schools first applied for designation; the progress which has been made in designating some or all of these schools as disadvantaged; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - National Schools Designation.
176.
My Department operates two schemes for schools in disadvantaged areas.
The first of these is a scheme of additional teaching assistance for national schools serving disadvantaged areas, the second a scheme of financial assistance for schools in such areas.
The scheme of additional teaching assistance commenced in 1982 and, in the last school-year some 78 schools were benefiting under it.
In addition, the Government has made provision for up to 95 additional concessionary teaching posts in such areas from this year. While the position of some schools with low enrolments has not been finalised, these additional posts are in general being approved in schools benefiting from the second (financial) scheme which had not had a concessionary teaching post to date.
Currently, a further 54 schools have applied for additional teaching assistance on the basis that they claim to serve disadvantaged areas.
The scheme of financial assistance was initiated in 1984. Selection of schools is on the basis of assessment by the Department rather than for formal application. A total of 178 schools have been assisted under the scheme to date.
It has not been possible in the time available to categorise applicants in the manner sought by the Deputy but this information will be sent to him as soon as possible.