Bernard Allen
Ceist:44 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Education if she proposes to extend the scheme whereby schools located in disadvantaged areas both at primary and secondary level will be allocated additional staff.
Written Answers. - School Staff.
Additional teaching posts were allocated recently at primary level under the special scheme of teaching assistance for schools serving disadvantaged areas. These additional posts, together with the posts previously sanctioned under the special scheme, have been allocated among 178 schools throughout the country.
The general question of educational disadvantage is being examined as part of the overall review by the Primary Education Review Body and I am awaiting their report and recommendations on the matter.
Arising from negotiations held with the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland and the Teachers' Union of Ireland, held under the aegis of the Central Review Committee of theProgramme for National Recovery, I am pleased to say that extra resources will be made available to provide additional teachers in specific disadvantaged areas. The question of defining specific criteria to be applied in determining disadvantaged areas is under consideration and discussions will be held shortly with the interested parties on this matter.