Brian Cowen
Ceist:107 Mr. Cowen asked the Minister for Education when a decision on an application for disadvantaged status will be made in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Offaly. [12151/96]
Written Answers. - Disadvantaged Status.
In response to the report from the Combat Poverty Agency and the Education Research Centre, I recently launched an important iniatiative which seeks to break the cycle of educational disadvantage in selected urban and rural areas.
In line with the recommendations of the report, a targeted programme of supports is being made available to 25 selected schools in designated areas of disadvantage in the Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Galway urban areas.
In addition, 25 clusters of small schools with fewer than five teachers, and particularly those in rural areas with legal levels of disadvantage, will receive a targeted programme of supports. Schools from all parts of the country with fewer than five teachers are eligible to apply for inclusion in this scheme.
The Education Research Centre has been commissioned to contact the target schools and invite applications for consideration for support under the new initiative. The process of contacting these schools is now under way.