Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 419: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will elaborate on her recent comments to the effect that the method and systems used to designate particular schools as being disadvantaged are inadequate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7967/05]

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 420: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will elaborate on recent comments that programmes in the area of educational disadvantage have been allowed to drift without sufficient focus and need to be targeted properly; the programmes to which she was referring, if a lack of resources at present and a legacy of years of under-resourcing are also hindering progress in the area of combating educational disadvantage. [7968/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 419 and 420 together.

My Department provided more than €540 million in 2004 for measures specifically designed to address educational disadvantage by targeting resources at pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds. My Department's approach to tackling educational disadvantage is based on a continuum of provision, from early childhood through adulthood, with the focus on preventative strategies, targeting and integrated community responses. Very significant additional funding is being provided to alleviate disadvantage in 2005. This additional funding will allow for increased targeting of measures from pre-school through the school system to third level, second-chance education and adult literacy.

It is important that the significant investment by my Department in tackling educational disadvantage is targeted at those most in need of support. The need to ensure that resources are properly targeted is one of the issues that are being addressed by my Department in the context of the overall review of disadvantage programmes which is nearing completion. Arising from the review process a draft report has been prepared and it is my intention to complete this work as soon as possible. My priorities for tackling educational disadvantage in the context of the final report will include putting in place an improved system for identifying and reviewing levels of disadvantage and targeting supports accordingly.