Patrick O'Donovan
Ceist:104. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of providing the reading recovery programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39370/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 15 October 2014
Ceisteanna (104, 107, 108)
Patrick O'Donovan
Ceist:107. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children that have entered reading recovery and have not gone on to learning support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39373/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraPatrick O'Donovan
Ceist:108. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason all schools are not being allowed to enter the reading recovery programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39374/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 104, 107 and 108 together.
Reading Recovery is a licensed programme which has been made available to primary schools through the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST).
The cost of providing support in the 2013/2014 school year was €240,000. This is in addition to salary costs for six dedicated personnel supporting Reading Recovery in PDST. My Department, through the PDST, continues to prioritise support for DEIS Band 1 and DEIS Band 2 schools as well as maintaining ongoing support for other schools already participating in the programme. Since 2004 over 20,000 students have benefited from the Reading Recovery Programme together with a range of other literacy supports. Emerging evidence from work carried out by the Educational Research Centre (ERC) is positive on the range of interventions including Reading Recovery in place for DEIS schools. An evaluation by the Inspectorate in 2011 also demonstrated that the effectiveness of specialised programmes is maximised when they are integrated into the overall programme in a school. Support for all schools provided by the PDST takes this into account as part of the ongoing continuing professional development programme for "Literacy and Numeracy for Learning and Life - The National Strategy to Improve Literacy and Numeracy for Children and Young People 2011 - 2020".