Vol. 463 No. 4
117 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Education the reason for the delay in appointing an extra teacher under disadvantage status to a school (details supplied) in Kilkenny which was granted disadvantage status in September 1994. [6721/96]
The school in question was one of a number of schools newly included in the disadvantaged areas scheme in 1994.
As indicated to these schools at the time, their inclusion in the scheme was for the purposes of allowing qualification for the supplementary capitation funding paid in respect of pupils in schools which have been granted disadvantaged status.
In securing disadvantaged status for funding purposes, the schools in question did not have an automatic entitlement to an additional teacher post. Such posts are allocated when resources permit and having regard to competing demands in other special needs areas. No such posts have been allocated in the past two years.
My Department is currently reviewing its overall approach to the identification and support of disadvantaged pupils in the light of the report on educational disadvantage prepared by the Combat Poverty Agency.
The needs of all schools, including the school mentioned by the Deputy, will be considered in the context of any future development of the disadvantaged areas scheme which may be undertaken.
