Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 20 Apr 1999

Vol. 503 No. 3

Written Answers. - Disadvantaged Status.

John Bruton

Ceist:

538 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has evaluated an application made by Castlecomer community school seeking to be accepted under disadvantaged status; and if he will approve their application. [9631/99]

Pat Carey

Ceist:

549 Mr. P. Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has considered the application of St. Mary's secondary school, Glasnevin for disadvantaged status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9667/99]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 538 and 549 together.

The authorities of Castlecomer Community School and St. Mary's secondary school, Holy Faith Convent, Glasnevin Dublin 11, have applied to my Department for disadvantaged status. In the current school year, of the total of 762 schools at second level, 190 schools have disadvantaged status.

I have no proposals at present for designating further schools as disadvantaged. However, I can assure the Deputies that the position of Castlecomer community school and St. Mary's Glasnevin will receive full consideration in the context of any future review of this scheme.

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. 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.