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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 30 Sep 2003

Vol. 571 No. 1

Written Answers. - Disadvantaged Status.

Finian McGrath

Ceist:

484 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that 90,000 children are still living below the poverty line; and the way in which he expects these pupils to get to third level education. [19904/03]

Since my appointment as Minister for Education and Science I have made it clear at every opportunity that addressing educational disadvantage is my top priority. It is my intention to ensure that available educational resources are targeted at the most disadvantaged people in the education system at all levels. My objective is to ensure that all young people leave the education system with a high quality education and related qualifications to support their full participation in society and in the economy.

My overall approach to tackling educational disadvantage is set in the context of the Government's National Action Plan Against Poverty and Social Exclusion 2003-2005 and the latest partnership agreement, Sustaining Progress, which contains a special initiative focused on literacy, numeracy and early school leavers. My Department is also working in co-operation with other Departments in respect of the special initiative aimed at ending child poverty.

The NAPSincl approach for education is based on a continuum of provision, from early childhood through adulthood, with the focus on preventive strategies, targeting and integrated community responses. These are designed to bring about an education system that allows people to realise their full potential. Some €460 million is being provided by my Department in 2003 for programmes specifically designed to tackle educational disadvantage in accordance with the strategies outlined in the NAPSincl and Sustaining Progress.

This includes provision in the following areas: €7 million for pre-school programmes such as the early start pilot project which caters for pupils aged three to four years who are most at risk in areas of social disadvantage; over €70 million for disadvantaged programmes at primary level such as the disadvantaged areas scheme, the home school community liaison scheme and the giving children an even break programme; €33 million for post-primary level disadvantaged schemes such as the disadvantaged areas scheme and the home school community liaison scheme; €23 million for the school completion programme which operates at primary and post primary level and is a key component of my Department's strategy to discriminate positively in favour of children and young people who are at risk of early school leaving; €12 million for disadvantaged youth schemes; €152 million for further education measures such as the back to education initiative, the Youthreach programme and the adult literacy programme and €158 million for measures specifically designed to broaden access to third level education for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
I was also pleased to announce, on 25 May 2003, a new package of measures costing €42 million in a full year to further address and ameliorate the problems facing students from low to moderate income households in accessing third level education. This package combines substantial improvements in the level and coverage of the maintenance grants for those on low to moderate incomes, with increases in the level of "top-up" grant for those who are most disadvantaged. This substantial package of measures will provide the opportunity, in an unprecedented manner, for students from disadvantaged backgrounds to achieve their full potential in the education system.
In all of this work I am advised by the statutory educational disadvantage committee set up under the Education Act, 1998, to advise on the policies and strategies to be adopted to identify and correct educational disadvantage. This committee, chaired by Dr. Áine Hyland, brings together experts from across the community of education interests and is a very important resource for me in ensuring that real progress is made in this area. The committee is currently undertaking a "root and branch" review of all of the disadvantaged schemes operated by my Department in order to ensure optimum synergy and integration.
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