Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 805: To ask the Minister for Education and Science further to appendix two of special education circular, SPED 02/05, what exactly constitutes all designated disadvantaged schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11022/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm for the Deputy that disadvantaged schools that satisfied my Department's criteria for additional staffing under the urban dimension of the Giving Children an Even Break scheme, which helps schools with high levels of pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds, availed of a preferential pupil-teacher ratio of 80:1 under the general allocation system.

The general allocation system is intended to cater for children with high-incidence special educational needs and those with learning support needs. The system was constructed so that allocations would be based on pupil numbers, taking into account the differing needs of the most disadvantaged schools and the evidence that boys have greater difficulties than girls in this regard.