Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 46: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when she will publish her Department's proposals for the alleviation of educational disadvantage; the action she intends to take on foot of the recommendations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2992/05]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 183: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will target extra resources to the schools in disadvantaged areas, in which 60,000 children live in poverty, and put a comprehensive strategy and action plan together on this issue. [3229/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 183 together.

An overall review of educational disadvantage programmes is currently being finalised by my Department. The purpose of this is to put in place a new action plan which will build on what has been achieved to date, adopt a more systematic, targeted and integrated approach and strengthen the capacity of the system to meet the educational needs of disadvantaged children and young people.

My priorities for tackling educational disadvantage in the context of the new action plan, will include putting in place a more structured system for identifying and regularly reviewing levels of disadvantage and targeting supports accordingly; placing a strong emphasis on early intervention; tackling problems in literacy, numeracy and early school leaving; strengthening administrative, planning and professional development supports for schools serving disadvantaged communities; adopting a more integrated approach to delivery of supports both within the education sector and on a cross-sectoral basis; increasing partnership between schools, homes and the wider community, including the business community; and strengthened arrangements in regard to research and measurement of progress and outcomes from educational inclusion measures.

My Department provided some €540 million in 2004 for programmes specifically designed to tackle educational disadvantage in accordance with the strategies outlined in the national action plan against poverty and social exclusion and Sustaining Progress. Very significant additional funding is being provided to alleviate disadvantage in 2005. This additional funding will allow for targeting of measures from pre-school through the school system to third-level, second-chance education and adult literacy.