Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 166 and 167 together.

The DEIS Rural Coordination Service was discontinued with effect from 31 August 2011. At that time there were 46 Rural Coordinator Posts at a cost of €2,714,000.

Evidence strongly suggests that disadvantage associated with rural poverty does not have the same impact on educational achievement as is the case in the urban context. While urban and rural disadvantage share many characteristics, such as poverty, unemployment and poor housing conditions such disadvantage in a rural context does not have the same impact on educational performance. Evaluation of educational outcomes in DEIS rural primary schools show that pupils in these schools are performing almost at the national averages in literacy and numeracy.

Our objective in implementing the DEIS Plan 2017 is to have the maximum possible impact on providing opportunities for students most at risk of disadvantage. To achieve this, additional resources must be targeted as closely as possible at the students with the greatest need in terms of concentrated levels of disadvantage. Accordingly, the DEIS Plan 2017 does not include a measure to allocate additional teaching resources to rural schools.

Rural DEIS primary schools continue to be supported with additional financial provision; access to the DSP school meals programme; access for teachers to a range of professional development programmes to assist in supporting the educational needs of children in these schools.