Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 26: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the steps she is taking to support disadvantaged children in the classroom; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47406/10]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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The majority of schools include among their pupils, children with disadvantaged backgrounds. In general most schools address the individual needs of these children without recourse to supplementary targeted resources.

Evidence has shown that disadvantage associated with poverty and social exclusion assumes a multiplier effect where the levels are highly concentrated in schools.

DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools), the action plan for educational inclusion, provides for a standardised system for identifying levels of disadvantage and an integrated School Support Programme (SSP). As a result of the identification and review processes, 876 schools have been included in the School Support Programme (SSP) under DEIS. These comprise 676 primary schools (urban and rural) and 200 second-level schools.

DEIS provides various supports for both primary and post primary schools. These include: - reduced pupil teacher ratio in primary schools in urban areas with most disadvantage. - allocation of administrative principal on lower figures than generally apply in primary schools in urban areas. - additional capitation funding based on level of disadvantage. - additional funding for schools books.- access to the School Meals Programme - access to numeracy/literacy supports and measures at primary level. - access to Home School Community Liaison services. - access to the School Completion Programme. - enhanced guidance counselling provision at post primary level. - access to planning supports. - provision for school library and librarian support in post primary schools with most disadvantage - access to the Junior Certificate School Programme and Leaving Certificate Applied - access to a range of professional development supports.

In the context of The National Recovery Plan, while it is expected that the majority of schools will be affected by the range of adjustments in ancilliary grants as well as in specific post allocations, supports that are provided directly to schools under the DEIS programme will remain largely unaffected, with the exception of the some 330 rural primary schools which will be affected by the withdrawal of the Rural Coordinator Scheme, which will be discontinued from September 2011.

My Department's main focus has been to retain, where possible, key resources in the schools targeted under the DEIS initiative and this is in line with the broad thrust of the recommendations of the Comptroller and Auditor General in his report on Primary Disadvantage in 2006.

An evaluation of DEIS has been undertaken by the Educational Research Centre on behalf of my Department and a report of this evaluation is expected shortly. The outcomes of the ERC evaluation will inform any future changes to the current programme.