My Department has responsibility for school-based initiatives in dealing with children who are suffering educational disadvantage for whatever reason this may occur.
Those initiatives include the appointment of remedial teachers, of special resource teachers, of guidance teachers — the question spans both primary and second level schools — whose functions include personal counselling and of additional teachers in disadvantaged schools. The development of home-school links will be an important feature in dealing with disadvantaged pupils now and in the future.
The home-school-community liaison project currently embraces 55 primary schools in disadvantaged areas. These schools enjoy the services of 31 local co-ordinators who work under the supervision of a national co-ordinator.
As part of the new resources provided under the Programme for Economic and Social Progress, it is proposed to appoint a further 14 local co-ordinators to the scheme and this should bring at least a further 30 schools into the scheme, bringing the total number of schools involved at primary level up to 80.
My Department's psychological service provides support to schools in coping with pupils who have particular problems. In-service courses are provided for teachers, in co-operation with the Department of Health, in relation to dealing with particular social problems arising, for example, from alcohol and other substance abuse.
In addition, the Programme for Economic and Social Progress provides for additional funding of £1 million in 1991, £2 million in 1992 and £3 million in 1993 to assist in areas of disadvantage at all levels. The measures I have just outlined are in place or are about to be put in place.
