Vol. 574 No. 2
122 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on the report of the educational disadvantage committee; if it is intended to implement the recommendations of the report, including the payment of an additional payment of up to ?5,000 per annum for teachers working in disadvantaged areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26503/03]
The educational disadvantage committee is an independent statutory body, which was established in March 2002 under the Education Act 1998. The committee is responsible for advising me on policies and strategies to be adopted to identify and correct educational disadvantage.
The committee, which is chaired by Professor Áine Hyland, vice-president and professor of education, University College Cork, is based on an expert rather than a representational model. To facilitate participation by a wider range of educational partners, as well as bodies and agencies active in tackling social exclusion, it was also decided to set up a larger forum to address educational disadvantage.
The educational disadvantage forum, which met for the first time in November 2002, was attended by approximately 240 delegates drawn from a wide range of interests. A report of the forum proceedings was published in March 2003 and will inform the work of the educational disadvantage committee.
One of my key concerns in tackling disadvantage is to improve the level of integration between the various educational disadvantage programmes operated by my Department. In this regard, I have requested the committee to undertake a root and branch review of all of the programmes to ensure optimum synergy and integration between them. The committee is engaged in this review.
The report on teacher supply and staffing in disadvantaged settings, which was submitted to me by the educational disadvantage committee, is under consideration at present.
