Educational Disadvantage Posts

Staffing Concessions Under the "Giving Children an Even Break" Scheme

There are separate urban/town and rural aspects to this scheme:

• 241 schools, in locations with populations in excess of 1,500, that have the highest concentrations of at risk pupils, are allocated necessary additional teaching posts to implement the maximum class sizes of 20:1 in all Junior classes (infants through second classes) and of 29:1 pupils in Senior classes (third through sixth classes). From September 2002, the maximum class size in senior classes in these schools was reduced to 27:1.
• A special €63.49 per capita grant is paid in respect of the percentage of pupils with disadvantaged characteristics, with a minimum payment of €952.30 to each school. Grants were provided to 763 urban schools.

• In rural areas, schools with the highest concentrations of at risk pupils are allocated the services of a teacher/coordinator who will work with clusters of 4 or 5 schools. This person works with pupils, parents and teachers. Under the rural dimension of the programme involving 345 schools, a local coordinator was allocated to clusters of five schools (total of 79 clusters).  In 71 cases where it was not possible to include a school in such clusters, additional grant aid was allocated. Grants are also being provided to 1,381 targeted rural schools.
• A special €63.49 per capita grant will be paid in respect of the percentage of pupils with disadvantaged characteristics and schools will receive a minimum payment of €952.30.

• Schools already in receipt of additional resources under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (DAS) and/or Breaking the Cycle Pilot Project (BTC) retain their entitlements under those schemes.
• Urban schools designated as serving areas of disadvantage may be eligible to receive additional teachers to implement the maximum class sizes provided for under the Programme i.e. 20:1 in all Junior classes (infants through second classes) and of 29:1 pupils (27:1 from September, 2002) in all Senior classes (third through sixth classes).
• Schools in DAS and BTC are already in receipt of an annual per capita grant of €38.09 per pupil. Under the New Programme, an additional €25.39 per capita grant will now be paid to these schools in respect of the percentage of pupils with disadvantaged characteristics, with an overall minimum payment of €952.30 to each school.

Support Teacher Project

This scheme supports 48 designated schools with 42 teachers. It aims to support the holistic development of pupils, who are support the holistic development of pupils who are experiencing difficulties in their lives and in their learning which is expressed in disruptive, disturbed and withdrawn behaviours.  The thrust of the work is preventative and supportive and is concerned with advising on and participating in a whole-school strategy to devise, identify, implement and review good practice in behavioural management.  It aims to prevent the occurrence of disruptive behaviour as well as supporting relevant personal where disruption occurs.

Children at Risk

Special Schools for Young Offenders

There are five Special Schools for Young Offenders under the aegis of the Department of Education and Skills. These schools cater for children under 16 years of age who have been convicted or placed on remand by a Court. These schools aim to provide care, education and training programmes for the young people concerned with a view to their rehabilitation while also focusing on the reasons for their detention.

The schools are as follows,

• Trinity House School, Lusk, Co. Dublin
• Finglas Child and Adolescent Centre, Finglas West, Dublin 11
• St. Joseph's Special School, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary
• Oberstown Boys Centre, Lusk, Co. Dublin
• Oberstown Girls Centre, Lusk, Co. Dublin

Youth Encounter Projects

Five such projects are being supported, and the projects cater for 125 young people who have dropped out of the system due to disruptive behaviour or habitual non-attendance.

High Support Units

These units have been established under the aegis of health boards in various parts of the country for disturbed children in the care of the health boards.

DEIS Initiative

In 2005 the Minister for Education and Skills outlined the DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) programme. This programme was first implemented in the 2005/2006 school year.