Vol. 508 No. 1
817 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to expand the primary school disadvantaged status scheme in view of the large number of deserving schools outside the scheme including Scoil Eoin national school, Greendale Road, Dublin 5. [17402/99]
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 should be targeted on the most disadvantaged schools.
I can assure the Deputy that the needs of the school to which he refers will be fully considered in the event of any additional initiatives being taken to address educational disadvantage.
