Vol. 502 No. 6
307 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has received an application from Christian Brothers secondary school, Tullamore, County Offaly, for disadvan taged status; if so, if he will grant the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8748/99]
Christian Brothers secondary school, Tullamore, County Offaly has applied to my Department for disadvantaged status.
In the current year, of the total of 762 schools at second level, 190 schools have been allocated disadvantaged posts and qualify for disadvantaged status on that basis.
A study of educational disadvantage conducted by the Combat Poverty Agency and the Education Research Centre in 1996 concluded that, disadvantage status should be confined to 16 per cent of the school-going population. The study noted that such status had already been grant to 17 per cent of pupils. As an alternative to extending the disadvantaged areas scheme to additional schools, the study recommended that available resources be targeted on the most disadvantaged schools.
I can assure the Deputy that the position of Christian Brothers secondary school, Tullamore, will receive full consideration in the context of any future review of the scheme.
