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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 15 Nov 2001

Vol. 544 No. 2

Written Answers. - New Schools Programme.

Jan O'Sullivan

Ceist:

57 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science the assistance which has been afforded to the 25% of schools who did not return the questionnaires before the launch of the new programme, Giving Children an Even Break; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28227/01]

The Deputy is referring to the comprehensive survey of all primary schools, which was carried out by the Educational Research Centre in 2000 at the request of my Department. The purpose of the survey was to identify the level of concentration in each primary school of pupils with characteristics that are associated with educational disadvantage and early school leaving. All primary schools were issued with a circular in April 2000, followed by a letter of invitation, a questionnaire and a further reminder to apply for inclusion in a package of supports aimed at tackling educational disadvantage. Almost 75% of primary schools responded to the survey with completed survey questionnaires.

All the schools identified as having enrolled pupils with characteristics of disadvantage have been invited to participate in the new programme, Giving Children An Even Break, which was launched by me in January this year. Over 2,300 primary schools are benefiting under the programme, based on the levels of concentration of disadvantaged pupils in the schools as identified through the ERC survey. After the new programme was announced in January 2001, several schools contacted the ERC and-or my Department offering various explanations for their school's non-participation in the survey in 2000. In addition, between September 2000 and April 2001, the ERC received 44 late questionnaires from the original survey. These schools were not included in the new programme since the processing of questionnaires was completed on 31 August 2000.
In February 2001, following consideration of submissions received, it was decided that any school that made a case concerning the failure to return a questionnaire in 2000 should be given a second chance to complete a questionnaire. It was also decided that a further opportunity to participate in the survey should be given to schools that were designated as disadvantaged or were participating in Breaking the Cycle pilot project, even if these schools had not made a submission.
In March 2001, the ERC invited all these schools to participate in the survey by completing a questionnaire. A total of 133 schools responded to the second round survey. The circumstances of 91 schools that submitted additional material was also examined by the Educational Research Centre as were the 44 late questionnaires from the original survey. My Department has now received a report from the Educational Research Centre and the situation of these schools is currently under consideration. The schools will be informed of the outcome in the near future.
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