Some of the initiatives put in place by the Department of Education to tackle disadvantage...

1990: Home/School/Community Liaison Scheme: 30 teachers appointed in 55 primary schools in large designated areas of disadvantage. Expanded to include primary and second-level schools. One of aims is to "promote active co-operation between home, school and relevant community agencies in promoting the educational interests of children."

1996: Breaking the Cycle: five-year pilot project in 33 urban and 25 clusters of rural primary schools. Pupil:teacher ration reduced to 15:1. Project now ended but schools retain the PT ratio.

1998: 8-15 Year-old Early School Leavers: Includes a research strand to identify children at risk and to help the Department put a tracking system in place, to ensure that children can not drift out of education unnoticed. Projects managed at local level by committee.

1999: Stay-in-School Initiative: aimed at keeping pupils in school to Leaving Cert. "Marking a significant departure from traditional policy, the funding is granted to schools on the basis of plans they helped design themselves." Today 117 schools are participating.

2001: Giving Children an Even Break: benefits 2,276 primary schools. 204 extra teachers appointed as well as grant funding. A total of £26 million is to be spent over three years on children who are most at risk of not reaching their potential in education. Pupils were identified on the basis of a survey of educational disadvantage carried out by the Educational Research Centre.