Enda Kenny
Ceist:39 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to the presentation of a five year plan to tackle educational disadvantages. [8187/99]
Written Answers. - Educational Disadvantage.
Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin): In only a brief period in office this Government has already demonstrated an unmatched commitment to giving real priority and substantial resources to the area of educational disadvantage.
In this context, I refer the Deputy to my statement of 3 December 1998 detailing a two year £57 million plan for a wide range of initiatives at all levels of education to tackle educational disadvantage. It is a comprehensive package, which represents the largest ever programme of its type in this country.
The package covers key areas such as early education, remedial services, home school community liaison, traveller education, children with disabilities, the establishment of the National Psychological Service, school planning, substance misuse prevention, early school leaving, adult literacy and third level access and retention. Our most important goal is to broaden and deepen participation at all levels of education as I am very conscious of the vital role that education can play in ensuring that each individual maximises his or her potential. Education is also crucial in breaking the cycle of intergenerational disadvantage so evident in some of our communities.
As I stated in December, it is my intention to build further on the initiatives launched and to continue to address educational disadvantage as part of a broader social inclusion programme during my term of office. I might add that in order to give a central co-ordinated focus to this work I have recently established a social inclusion unit in my Department, the role of which is to co-ordinate and develop policy and initiatives aimed at combating social exclusion and disadvantage.
As further evidence of my commitment to tackling educational disadvantage I provided in section 32 of the Education Act, 1998, for the establishment by order of an educational disadvantage committee to advise me on policies and strategies to be adopted to identify and correct educational disadvantage. Up to half the membership of this committee will, following appropriate consultation, be appointed from nominees of voluntary and state bodies whose aims and objectives are relevant to the work of the committee. Part of the committee's remit will be the preparation and submission to the Minister of a statement containing: (a) proposed policies and strategies for the identification and correction of educational disadvantage, relating to such period as it considers appropriate; and (b) the areas of activity to which the committee accords priority.