SCHOOL breakfasts and classes of 15 students - less than half the average class size - are to be provided for the State's poorest pupils.
The measures are a new approach to tackling disadvantage in education proposed by the Minister for Education.
However, Ms Breathnach's plans for an injection of resources into just 25 urban disadvantaged schools and 25 clusters of rural disadvantaged schools were immediately criticised by the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO). It claimed yesterday the measures would lead to the closure of small schools and the "devastation" of rural communities.
The general secretary of the INTO, Senator Joe O'Toole, said that by redeploying up to 300 teachers to the new "super disadvantaged" scheme, and freezing the pupil teacher ratio in other primary schools, the Minister would force the closure of many one teacher schools with declining numbers.
"She will also condemn the majority of Irish children to continue learning in the largest classes in Europe.
"Taking teachers and resources from ordinary struggling primary schools and transferring them to disadvantaged schools is no more than robbing Peter to pay Paul," he said.
This criticism was echoed by Fianna Fail's education spokesman, Mr Micheal Martin, who said large numbers of small schools could lose a teacher next autumn because of the freezing of the pupil teacher ratio.
Under the scheme unveiled by the Minister yesterday, selected disadvantaged schools will also qualify for extra grants for buying books and equipment, special training for teachers and an enhanced capitation grant of £75 per pupil, compared to £45 in most schools.
The schools chosen will be those with the greatest number of pupils from unemployed or lone parent backgrounds, whose families hold a medical card or live in rented local authority housing, or whose parents left school early.
The scheme is based on the recommendations of a recent Combat Poverty Agency report, which, in line with new international research, questioned the received wisdom - repeated in the Programme for Competitiveness and Work - that a generals lowering of the pupil teacher ratio helps counter disadvantage.
The Conference of Religious in Ireland welcomed the Minister's targeted approach, but said a more radical approach was needed.
It called for the increased use of classroom assistants, a broadening of the school curriculum to include non academic qualities and a re evaluation of the exam system.
