Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 8 Dec 1999

Vol. 512 No. 4

Written Answers. - Breaking the Cycle Scheme.

Tony Gregory

Ceist:

156 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Education and Science if St. Joseph's co-educational primary school, East Wall Road, Dublin 3, will retain its reception year until the school is included in the Breaking the Cycle programme, the Early Start programme or when it obtains a resource teacher. [26441/99]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

The primary curriculum is designed as an eight year course. It is flexible and child-centred and can be adapted to cater for the individual needs of pupils. Furthermore, there is no official programme for a middle infant class within the primary curriculum. As a general rule, primary pupils should progress from one standard to a higher standard at the end of each school year.

My Department advised the board of management of St. Joseph's school in June 1999 that the three year junior cycle should be eliminated at the end of the 1998-99 school year and a two year infant cycle re-established. It is the policy of my Department that schools operate a two year infant cycle and the retention of the reception year cannot be allowed.

I understand that St Joseph's is included in the disadvantaged areas scheme and as a consequence benefits from the allocation of a disadvantaged concessionary teacher, inclusion in the home-school-community liaison scheme and supplementary capitation payments.

Breaking the Cycle is a five year pilot project and my Department's inspectorate is closely monitoring its operation. The Education Research Centre is evaluating the project. At this stage it would be premature to consider the inclusion of additional schools in Breaking the Cycle.

The Early Start pre-school programme which was introduced in 1994 is currently in operation on a pilot basis in 40 primary schools focused on areas of particular disadvantage.

The Education Research Centre in Drumcondra evaluated this project over the period from September 1994 until June 1997 and the evaluation report was submitted to my Department in 1998. This report is being considered in the context of the report of the forum on early childhood education. In addition, a White Paper on early childhood education is in preparation. Consequently, the extension of the Early Start pre-school service to additional schools in designated areas of disadvantage will not be considered until that work is concluded.

My Department has received an application for resource teaching support from this school and my Department's inspectors are currently investigating the application. On receipt of this report my Department will be in contact with the school authorities.