Education Schemes.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 March 2004

Tuesday, 9 March 2004

Ceisteanna (164)

Billy Kelleher

Ceist:

251 Mr. Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason St. Patrick’s girls secondary school, Gardiners Mill, Cork, is not included in the Breaking the Cycle scheme, even though the national schools surrounding it are all included in the scheme; if he has satisfied himself that St. Patrick’s has enough teaching resources to cater for students who require additional assistance; if he will include St. Patrick’s in the Breaking the Cycle scheme due to the fact that there are areas of disadvantage in its catchment area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7595/04]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

The Breaking the Cycle pilot project is a primary school initiative launched in 1996. It seeks to discriminate positively in favour of primary schools in selected urban and rural areas which have high concentrations of children who are at risk of not reaching their potential in the education system because of their socio-economic backgrounds. Any decision to expand or extend any of the initiatives dealing with tackling educational disadvantage will be considered in the context of a broad review of all such initiatives to tackle educational disadvantage which is currently under way in my Department.