Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 21 Nov 2000

Vol. 526 No. 3

Written Answers. - Educational Disadvantage.

Tony Gregory

Ceist:

102 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has received a submission from the Inner City Organisation Network detailing the extreme educational disadvantage in Dublin's north inner city and requesting the formation of an education task force to develop a comprehensive response to the issues raised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23450/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

The Inner City Organisations Network, ICON, is one of four networks operating within the Dublin Inner City Partnership. The submission referred to by Deputy Gregory was received in my Department early last week and is currently under consideration.

My Department is acutely aware of the extreme educational disadvantage experienced by many people in Dublin's north inner city. As a consequence, my Department directly supports the educational needs of the community served by ICON through funding for schools, including extra funding and staffing for schools with dedicated disadvantaged status in the area. My Department also funds a pre-school. In addition my Department provides support and funding for the following initiatives in the area: home, school and community scheme, breaking the cycle pilot project; stay in school retention initiative; school development planning initiative; Youthreach and VTOS provision; and adult literacy programmes channelled through the City of Dublin VEC, adult and community education and youth services.

In addition the Dublin Inner City Partnership is supported in the following ways: a representative of my Department's inspectorate has been assigned to its education and training sub-committee – this representative supports the planning and development of measures to tackle educational disadvantage in the partnership area; and each partnership has the services of an education co-ordinator funded by my Department and it is open to the group to seek the advice of the co- ordinator with a view to the inclusion of proposals within the overall partnership plan; and a nominee from my inspectorate acts as Department representative for the Dublin north east inner city integrated services process which is part of the ICON area. This nominee regularly meets the chairpersons of the two education task groups of the integrated services process with a view to furthering action on educational matters within my Department. In addition he liaises with the education co-ordinator of the Dublin Inner City Partnership with a view to co-ordinating strategies to combat educational disadvantage in the area. The integrated services process is supporting a more focused and co-ordinated response by statutory agencies to the needs of the local community.