asked the Minister for Education when she proposes to spend the £500,000 budgeted for depressed areas of Dublin and Cork; if she has identified the areas in Cork needing allocations; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

The £500,000 at my disposal in 1984 for the provision of additional aid in educationally disadvantaged areas is being applied.

(1) to bring the grants payable in respect of pupils in special classes in national schools up to the level of those payable in respect of pupils in special schools;

(2) to provide ex gratia payments to certain schools in disadvantaged areas for the relief of debt;

(3) to initiate a programme for selected schools in the greater Dublin area, Cork and Limerick which will include the provision of books and materials for the children, in-service training for the teachers and, in co-operation with the boards of management, the sponsorship of initiatives in home-school-community liaison. Schools in the Dublin, Cork and Limerick areas which fulfil the necessary conditions may apply for selection for participation in the programme;

(4) to fund a pre-school project in respect of children of the travelling people.

While the Minister's answer is a lengthy one I asked specifically if the areas in Cork that are to benefit have been identified but, consciously, or otherwise, that question has not been answered. Presumably, the Minister will furnish me with these details.

The areas in Cork that are to benefit are identified. A total of 33 schools will benefit from the provision of the additional aid. Of these, 19 are in Dublin, eight are in Cork and six are in Limerick.

Now that the need for this fund has been established I should like to hear whether the money will be made available in 1984 and, if so, when in 1984. I look forward to the Minister letting me have a list of those schools which have been identified as such information is of interest from my point of view.

It is not my intention to read out the list of schools that will benefit from this provision but if the Deputy wishes he may discuss any particular area with me when I shall be prepared to let him have any information that it is possible to give. Regarding the other point raised by the Deputy, half of the £100,000 for special classes has been paid already while the remaining half will be paid in June. The £200,000ex gratia sum for the relief of debt will be paid to the diocesan authorities before Easter. The £25,000 for pre-schooling for travellers' children will be expended from September onwards and into 1985. The £50,000 for home-school-community liaison will be spent from September onwards and into 1985 while the £100,000 for books and materials will be spent in September 1984.