Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 148: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider retaining rural co-ordinators under the delivering equality in education scheme in view of the fact that the abolition of the service does not affect urban schools in the DEIS scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13592/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The decision to remove the Rural Co-ordinator Service from 331 rural DEIS schools was a measure taken by the last Government to secure some €24 million in savings in the 2011-2012 school year. The service will therefore be discontinued with effect from 31 August 2011.

I do not intend to revisit the decision of the previous Government to withdraw rural coordinator posts. The Deputy will understand that Ireland is effectively now in economic receivership because of the disastrous legacy of the last Government. The requirements to make expenditure savings and to ensure that staffing numbers remain within the Public Service Employment Control Framework prevent me from re-visiting this decision.

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 set of measures included in the National Recovery Plan 2011 to 2014 impacts on every sector of the public service and will unquestionably lead to significant challenges for schools as well as my Department in the coming years. The major challenge will undoubtedly be to seek improved outcomes for children with fewer resources.