Ceist:
123 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans he has to expand the Breaking the Cycle scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27149/00]
Written Answers. - Breaking the Cycle Scheme.
Breaking the Cycle is a five-year pilot project for the period from 1 September 1996 until 30 June 2001 and the evaluation of aspects of it will continue until this latter date. The salient feature of the project in urban schools is a significant reduction to 15:1 in the pupil-teacher ratio in the junior classes – infants through second class – in the schools. The main feature of the project in rural schools is the provision of a local co-ordinator in each of 25 clusters of schools to promote parental involvement, support school staffs and give direct support to the targeted pupils who are at risk of educational disadvantage and early school leaving. Both dimensions of the project have funding for books and learning materials and for local initiatives and a requirement that the schools concerned engage in planning, in-career development and the evaluative process.
It is anticipated that the final report from the Education Research Centre will be forwarded to my Department at the end of 2001. When that report has been considered fully, decisions will be made regarding the future of the programme.