Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 4: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the rural co-ordinators at a school (details supplied) in County Offaly, with particular reference to the positive benefit of such co-ordinator in rural schools, with particular reference to literacy projects, numeracy projects and parents classes for extra-curricular activities and if having regard to the importance of the scheme for the entire community, consideration will be given towards the restoration of this scheme. [4306/11]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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The decision to remove the Rural Coordination Service is just one of a range of measures, included in the National Recovery Plan 2011 to 2014, to secure some €24m in savings in the 2011/2012 school year. The service will therefore be discontinued with effect from 31 August 2011.

This measure will not affect the provision of HSCL services which remain in 200 post primary and 345 urban primary participating in DEIS. DEIS rural primary schools will continue to receive the following supports: - additional capitation funding based on level of disadvantage. - additional funding for schools books. - access to the School Meals Programme - access to numeracy/literacy supports and measures.- access to planning supports. - access to a range of professional development supports.

The measures required as part of the National Recovery Plan sets out a pathway of bringing our overall public expenditure back into line with what we can afford as a country. Education has been protected much more than other areas of public spending, but given the enormity of the current difficulties, the reality is that no area of public spending can be completely spared.