Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

Implementation of the DEIS report which I launched, arising from a survey carried out for the Department, will probably begin in December. We recognise there are disadvantaged schools now that were not previously recognised as such. New schools not included in previous programmes have developed in various areas, so they must be included. That investment will involve an extra €40 million over and above current expenditure. It will also involve another 300 additional posts and in the first instance the investment will be targeted quite specifically at urban educational disadvantage which we recognise is a real problem.

The Deputy is right in saying the children who have dropped out of secondary education are those who have had literacy and numeracy problems. I am confident the 5,000 teachers we now have in our primary schools dealing specifically with children with learning difficulties and special needs will target those children. They can be identified and supported at an early age so that their problems can be rectified before they get to second level.

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