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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 5 Mar 1997

Vol. 475 No. 8

Written Answers. - Educational Programmes.

Chris Flood

Ceist:

153 Mr. Flood asked the Minister for Education the reason a school (details supplied) in Dublin 24, has been turned down for the early start programme and the breaking the cycle programme; if she will overturn the refusal in view of the social difficulties in the school's catchment area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6255/97]

I have no proposals at present to extend the Early Start Programme or the Breaking the Cycle scheme to additional primary schools.

Schools were selected for inclusion in the programme on the basis of priority of need as reflected in the level of educational disadvantage of the pupils concerned and also having regard to the availability of suitable accommodation to house a pre-school project. Unfortunately, the school in question did not have the necessary accommodation available to accommodate a pre-school project at that time.

The school in question was among those invited by the Education Research Centre to apply for inclusion in the urban phase of the Breaking the Cycle initiative. All applicants schools submitted data on the educational disadvantage of their pupils under a range of specific criteria devised by the Education Research Centre. The centre selected schools for inclusion in the initiative on the basis of priority of need as reflected in the data submitted. Unfortunately, based on the data it submitted, the school in question was not among those selected by the Education Research Centre for inclusion in the initiative.

The needs of the school in question will be considered in the event of any further development of the Early Start pre-school programme or the Breaking the Cycle initiative being undertaken.

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