Theresa Ahearn
Ceist:40 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Education if she will classify a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary as disadvantaged; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - County Tipperary School Classification.
The request of the school in question for disadvantaged status is one of a number of requests received from schools throughout the country in this regard.
My Department is at present carrying out a review of the existing disadvantaged areas funds scheme and all of these applications are being considered in this context.
Accordingly, I am not in a position to make a statement in regard to this specific application at this time.
Theresa Ahearn
Ceist:41 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Education the criteria under which a primary school can be classified disadvantaged; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
The selection of schools to benefit from the special measures to assist national schools serving disadvantaged areas has been made hitherto in consultation with the Department's inspectors who are familiar with the particular circumstances of the schools in question. The inspectors submit recommendations to the Department based on the difficulties affecting the schools in question and taking account of the many educational, social and environmental factors relevant to each case.
However, a special working group was set up some time ago to review the criteria for identifying schools in disadvantaged areas.
This group has now submitted a report which is being examined at present. When this work is completed I will be in a position to make a statement on the matter.