John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 594: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when the results of a survey of educational disadvantage in primary schools conducted by the Education Research Centre in June 2005 will be available; if the results of the survey will be used to allocate extra resources through delivering equality of opportunity in schools; if a list of schools to benefit under the scheme will be published; if the needs of schools in RAPID catchment areas will be examined and if extra resources identified will be provided; if there is a timeframe for action in relation to the needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32549/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Delivering equality of opportunity in schools, DEIS, the new action plan for educational inclusion, which will be introduced on a phased basis, starting during the current school year, aims to ensure the educational needs of children and young people, from pre-school to completion of upper second-level education, three to 18 years, from disadvantaged communities are prioritised and effectively addressed. The new plan will involve an additional annual investment of approximately €40 million on full implementation. It will also involve the creation of about 300 additional posts across the education system.

A key element of the plan is the putting in place of a standardised system for identifying levels of disadvantage in our primary and second-level schools, which will result in improved targeting of resources at those most in need. The identification and analysis process is being managed by the Educational Research Centre on behalf of the Department of Education and Science. This process is being assisted by an advisory group, and will be supported by quality assurance work co-ordinated through the Department of Education and Science's regional offices and the inspectorate. Information available from other sources, for example, areas selected for inclusion in RAPID, will also be taken into consideration.

As a result of the identification process, approximately 600 primary schools, comprising 300 urban-town schools and 300 rural schools, and 150 second-level schools will be included in a new school support programme. The programme will bring together, and build upon, several existing interventions for schools and school clusters/communities with a concentrated level of educational disadvantage. It is anticipated that the identification process will be completed by the end of 2005.