I propose to take Question Nos. 415, 438 and 477 together. Schools are being selected for support under Breaking the Cycle Initiative by reference to new selection criteria, developed by the Education Research Centre, and taking on board the recommendations of the Combat Poverty Agency. The criteria were outlined in the Department's leaflet, Breaking the Cycle.
The following criteria are common to the identification of both urban and rural schools which serve children from disadvantaged backgrounds: long-term unemployment (one year or more) of the main breadwinner; the family having a medical card; living in a lone-parent household and the educational level attained by the mother and by the father.