Finian McGrath
Ceist:124. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on primary school funding in disadvantaged areas in 2013. [3147/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 22 January 2013
Ceisteanna (124)
Freagraí ó Béal (5 píosaí cainte)
Education is a priority for the Government and we will endeavour to protect and enhance the educational experience of children, young people and students in disadvantaged areas. The Government has protected DEIS resources provided by my Department, with no overall changes to DEIS-related staffing levels or DEIS funding as a result of budget 2013.
As part of the DEIS programme, a total of €69 million is being provided to 665 primary schools, supporting 100,595 pupils and some 930 additional teacher posts. This funding provides for reduced class sizes, the home-school community liaison service, the support teacher project, DEIS and book grants to individual schools. However, it should be noted that, as the DEIS teaching allocation to individual schools is enrolment based, increasing or decreasing enrolment will determine whether particular schools gain or lose posts from year to year.
In addition, these schools will also receive further supports through the school meals programmes and the school completion programme provided by my colleagues, the Ministers for Social Protection and Children and Youth Affairs, respectively.
I thank the Minister for his response. Does he accept that the situation for many primary schoolchildren in disadvantaged schools has worsened in the past two years, given the significant levels of unemployment? The national figure is in the region of 15%, but the figure in many of the disadvantaged schools' areas can be as much as 25% or 30% as a result of austerity measures.
Does the Minister accept that many primary schoolchildren in disadvantaged schools are suffering immensely?
Thousands of children go to school every day not knowing where their next meal will come from when they get home in the evening. Does the Minister accept that is very difficult for those families? It is extremely difficult to go to a class at 9 a.m. and focus on five hours of education and extra-curricular activities if one does not have proper meals. How does the Minister expect such four year olds or six years olds to be educated and to try to aim towards third level in the long term?
I accept the Minister’s point that education is a priority despite the economic situation. Will he be able to hold out this year and preserve the integrity and supports for disadvantaged schools?
There has been no reduction in front-line services in this year’s budget, in particular for DEIS schools. There are increasing pressures across the system because of the economic circumstances in which we find ourselves. As a former national school teacher himself, Deputy McGrath is aware that the majority of disadvantaged young people are not necessarily in DEIS schools. There are many such young people in regular schools who are suffering disadvantage as a result of changed circumstances in the home. Some principal teachers have brought to my attention the fact that they are running informal breakfast clubs through their own efforts to address the issue raised by Deputy McGrath whereby young children in a home in some cases might be the first up and out in the morning and are coming to school without a proper breakfast. The situation is not satisfactory and when the economy recovers, we will have to address such issues.
On the €69 million and DEIS schools, I encourage the Minister to ensure that, despite the economic and financial situation, priority is given to such schools and pupils. I am well aware of the situation to which the Minister referred with breakfast clubs. I encourage people to ensure that those schools have priority funding and supports to ensure the children get a fair start.
The Minister adverted in his initial reply to the problem in some schools with enrolment. If numbers drop, a problem could arise and a local DEIS school could take a hit which would be damaging to the school. Is there any way around the problem or does the Minister have a solution to it?
As the Deputy is aware, enrolment is taken in October in the primary school system. Entitlements to additional supports and teacher allocation are based on those figures. If there are changes from one year to another, then they obviously have an impact on entitlement. If enrolment falls in October of year one compared to year zero, that can affect to a partial or more significant extent the entitlement of the school. There are no proposals currently to change the system. If schools have experienced difficulty, I suggest they contact the Department to find out if ameliorating measures could be provided. However, we are stretched at the moment in every respect.