Written answers

Thursday, 7 December 2006

Department of Education and Science

Educational Disadvantage

7:00 pm

Photo of Pat CareyPat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 172: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if an application has been received by her Department from a centre (details supplied) in Dublin 11 for an annual grant for its opt-in-education programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42164/06]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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An application for funding from the centre referred to by the Deputy has been received under the Fund for the Development of Educational Responses to Certain Children at Risk. As the Deputy is aware, this Fund is the responsibility of my colleague, Mr Brian Lenihan, T.D., Minister for Children and is administered by my Department. The initiative forms part of a multi-agency approach to meet the needs of children who are at risk, the objective of which is to develop preventative and supportive programmes, which are targeted at children and young people who are at risk of educational disadvantage and social exclusion. A key focus of the initiative is the empowerment of local communities to develop innovative and flexible programmes that address identified needs of intended participants. Resources allocated under this initiative are used for the provision of a range of holistic supports to enable pupils from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds to participate fully in education. The initiative is limited in the number of projects that can be funded.

The Projects/Schools must demonstrate evidence of an assessment of existing actions in the local area and can demonstrate that the proposed initiative either compliments such actions or fills a gap in provision; be overseen by a steering committee, which represents relevant multi-agency statutory and voluntary bodies such as schools, parents, youth and community services, health, recreation and leisure groups and charitable organisations; and focus preventative and supportive actions on enhancing the retention and participation of the target group in education and training. Funding has been approved for the centre referred to by the Deputy and notification of this will be issued to the centre in the coming days.

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