Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 234: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her officials will be asked to make contact with schools (details supplied) in Dublin 24; the way in which the particular needs of these schools in a disadvantaged RAPID area will be facilitated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12641/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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DEIS, delivering equality of opportunity in schools, the new action plan for educational inclusion, provides for a standardised system for identifying levels of disadvantage and a new integrated school support programme, SSP. This standardised system replaces all of the existing arrangements for targeting schools for participation in initiatives to address disadvantage. The process of identifying primary and second-level schools for participation in the new school support programme has been completed.

As a result of the identification process, 840 schools, serving communities with high concentrations of disadvantage, have been invited to participate in the new programme. These comprise 640 primary schools, composed of 320 urban or town schools and 320 rural schools, and 200 second-level schools. Letters of invitation were issued to all 840 schools in late February with a request to complete and return an acceptance form by 10 March 2006.

The schools to which the Deputy refers have both accepted an invitation to participate in the first band of the school support programme and my Department will be in contact with the schools on their entitlements to supports under the first phase of SSP shortly.