Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am conscious of the entire gamut of education, but particularly existing areas of educational disadvantage. As the Deputy alluded to, we made significant announcements yesterday about supporting and improving the situation in DEIS schools. It is my intention to offer an expanded provision of summer schemes in numeracy and literacy to benefit students who feel that they have been negatively impacted.

I recognise the specific point made by the Deputy in terms of the funding that has been made available in Britain. There are a variety of views as to how that has been received in Britain by education stakeholders. It is, therefore, important that we find our own mechanisms going forward. In the first instance, however, it is most definitely my intention to begin programmes of that nature in the summer, particularly with regard to numeracy and literacy, but much more expanded than we had last year. Other measures that are required will be put in place on foot of the studies we have done and those which are ongoing.