Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 52: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of agencies funded by her Department working in the area of educational disadvantage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40187/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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A key focus of the Government's education policy is to prioritise investment in favour of those most at risk and to optimise access, participation and outcomes at every level of the system for disadvantaged groups.

The wide variety of measures in place for tackling educational disadvantage and social exclusion reflect these concerns. These measures range from pre-school interventions, supports for tackling children's literacy problems, reduced pupil-teacher ratios, increased capitation grants and measures to tackle early school leaving and strengthen ties between the school, the family and the community. In addition, there are interventions in support of youth to facilitate access to third-level and to provide "second chance education" for young people and adults.

The total provision for educational inclusion programmes in the 2007 Abridged Estimates is nearly €730 million across all levels of education. This represents an increase of nearly €95 million on the comparable 2006 figure. The 2007 provision includes additional funding for the implementation of measures under the DEIS action plan at pre-school, primary and second-level, additional funding for further education programmes and an increase in provision for third level student support schemes including the full year cost of the 22% increase in the top-up grant.

My focus in addressing educational disadvantage is to concentrate resources on front-line services and supports for those most in need. In this respect, the agencies working in the education sector have a key role in promoting equality of access, participation and progression.

A broad range of agencies would have a role in that respect from the early education sector right through primary and second level to further and higher education and the youth sector. These include the following:

The Centre for Early Childhood Development and Education;

FETAC;

HETAC;

The HEA; The National Centre for Guidance in Education;

The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment;

The National Council for Special Education;

NEPS;

The National Educational Welfare Board;

The National Office for Equity of Access to Higher Education;

The NQAI; and

The Vocational Education Committees.

In addition, my Department also funds a range of support services, NGOs and other organisations working in the area of educational disadvantage. All these agencies have a vital role to play in the Government's multi-faceted strategy to tackle socio-economic disadvantage at every level of our education system.