Vol. 433 No. 6
151 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education if she expects to add any schools in County Meath to the 79 primary and 26 post-primary schools which currently have a home school liaison service; and if she has assessed the eligibility of any schools in County Meath for this project to date.
I have recently allocated an additional 15 home school community liaison posts at primary level which facilitates the inclusion of a further 27 schools in this scheme. The post-primary scheme also is being extended by the inclusion of a further 13 schools.
This brings the total number of schools currently in this scheme to 106 at primary level and 39 at post-primary.
School selected for inclusion in the scheme have been taken in the main from those already designated as disadvantaged. There are no schools from the area mentioned by the Deputy in the disadvantaged areas scheme. However, the selection process for including further schools is currently underway.
The Programme for a Partnership Government contains a commitment to developing a nationwide Home/School/ Community Liaison Service. As part of this commitment, I will be keeping the question of further need in this area under review.
