Éamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:140 Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education the number of island schools designated as disadvantaged by her Department; and the names of these schools. [2396/96]
Written Answers - Island Schools.
There are no island schools currently included in the disadvantaged areas schemes. Under present arrangements schools are selected for inclusion in the disadvantaged areas scheme on the basis of a range of criteria agreed between my Department, schools' management and the teacher unions.
Factors taken into account include the incidence of unemployment, local authority housing occupancy and medical card holders among the parents of the children concerned. Account is also taken of the views of my Department's inspectorate and the prevailing pupil teacher ratios among applicant schools.
The Combat Poverty Agency has, at my request, carried out a review of current approaches to the selection and support of schools in disadvantaged areas. Arising from this review, consideration is now being given to the appropriate criteria to be applied in the future selection of schools for disadvantaged status. The needs of all schools will be considered in the context of any further expansion of the disadvantaged areas schemes which may be undertaken.
I should also mention that in 1994, I took a particular initiative in relation to communication technology for island schools. In the case of the 14 schools designated as island schools, arrangements were made for the installation of telephones, fax facilities, modems, computers and printers. My Department's inspectorate is in continuing contact with these schools to offer support and guidance to them in utilising this additional equipment to best effect.