Enda Kenny
Ceist:1112 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason a school (details supplied) in County Mayo was not included in the disadvantaged status scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21944/01]
Written Answers. - Disadvantaged Status.
Last January I launched a major new programme, Giving Children An Even Break, to deal with educational disadvantage in primary schools. The new programme will be run over a three-year period and will cost some £26 million. The programme involves the creation of 204 new primary teaching posts and the allocation of cash grants to primary schools in respect of disadvantaged pupils. The schools targeted under the programme were identified through a comprehensive and objective survey of all primary schools carried out in March-April 2000 by the Educational Research Centre, Drumcondra, on my Department's behalf. There are separate urban and rural dimensions to the new programme.
The school in question has been included in the rural dimension and has received supplementary grant aid of £750 in respect of the 2000-01 school year towards providing additional educational supports for the pupils concerned. The school will be allocated a similar sum in the current school year.
Where schools expressed concern about the outcome of the survey in respect of their school, they were advised to make representations to my Department outlining their circumstances. Schools were informed that these representations would then be referred to the Educational Research Centre for consideration and my Department would then consider the position of these schools.
In accordance with the approach outlined, representations from the school in question were received by the Educational Research Centre. My Department has received a report from the Educational Research Centre and the situation of this school and other such schools is currently under consideration. The school in question will be informed of the outcome in the near future.