The Minister for Education and Science, Mary Hanafin, T.D., and Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Pat Carey, T.D., announced almost €10 million in funding from the Dormant Accounts Fund and the Rapid Leverage Fund to enhance supports for children in over 220 DEIS schools and 200 pre-schools.
The €10million funding will be available for 3 new measures to:
- allow over 20 DEIS schools in Limerick to remain open after hours, at weekends and during school holidays
- Enable up to 100 DEIS schools to achieve Digital School Status
- Upgrade facilities in up to 200 feeder pre-schools for DEIS schools will be enhanced and provide integrated pre-school provision for Traveller children and materials and training to support pre-schools in the integration of Traveller children
- Continue the library enhancement programme in up to 130 DEIS schools.
Details of how the scheme will operate will be announced at a future date. Schools will be informed about how to apply for funding under these new schemes in the coming weeks.
In the case of the library enhancement scheme, schools who already applied under the first round of funding regarding this initiative will now have their application considered under the current funding announcement. Minister Hanafin said that: ”funding will continue to be targeted at those schools and communities who most need assistance. This remains a key focus for the Government as it continues to prioritise investment in tackling education disadvantage. Continuing the library enhancement programme will provide up to 130 schools with enhanced library facilities and enable schools to buy new books to interest and engage their students. Increasing the number of DEIS schools achieving Digital School status, by up to 100 schools, means they will be able to upgrade ICT equipment and purchase new computers, laptops, printers, digital cameras or enhance their network capacity – again enhancing the educational opportunities for those who need it most.”
Minister Hanafin also spoke about developing pre school provision and enhancing Traveller participation in integrated pre school services where it will “enhance opportunities for these children as they progress to primary and post primary education.”
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