Vol. 502 No. 6
310 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Education and Science when St. Marie's of the Isle national school, Cork, will receive disadvantaged status in view of the commitments given by him when he visited the school in September 1998 in this regard. [8776/99]
The position of national disadvantaged schemes is subject to ongoing review. A study of educational disadvantage conducted by the Combat Poverty Agency and the Education Research Centre in 1996 concluded that disadvantaged status should be confined to 16 per cent of the school-going population. The study noted that such status had already been granted to 17 per cent of pupils.
However, I am very much aware of the particular difficulties faced by the school in question. I am arranging to address these difficulties as a matter of urgency. My Department will be in touch with the school in relation to this matter in the very near future.
