DEIS school allocations
Deputies Connolly and McGrath criticised the new DEIS roll-out, arguing that deserving schools had been excluded and that the process lacked credibility and support. Minister Bruton defended the allocation model as objective and based on CSO census data, while acknowledging that some schools would fall just outside the criteria.
On DEIS, no new school has been admitted to DEIS since 2009, the reason being the promised review. That review was published this week, which I welcome. However, how could anyone have faith in that review when a school in Galway, in respect of which 85% of the pupils' parents are non-Irish and unemployment or low paid work in the area stands at 75%, has not been designated a DEIS school under the new programme? Perhaps the Taoiseach or the Minister, Deputy Bruton, would clarify the situation and respond to my question of how anybody can have faith in a process that allows that to happen.
Comment on this
I want to raise with the Taoiseach the consequences of the roll-out of the DEIS programme this week without the necessary supports in place to meet schools' needs. I am calling on the Taoiseach to order a full and urgent review of the new DEIS programme to ensure that such schools do not suffer from the mistakes of the Department of Education and Skills and to ensure transparency. Five schools in Tipperary town and one school in Fethard in my area were excluded from the programme without any explanation, which has left the teachers, pupils and parents speechless and dumbfounded. These schools were excluded from the programme six years ago and had expected to be included this time around. An appeals system must be put in place for the schools affected.
Comment on this
The system for selecting schools is based on the census returns, which means officials are using the best data available from the CSO on the socioeconomic make-up of the schools concerned. For the first time we have been in a position to add 80 new schools to the 800 plus schools now in the disadvantaged category. In addition, we are upgrading a further 30 schools in terms of the provision of high levels of support. There will always be schools that are just outside of any criteria that are set.
Comment on this
We are providing significant support and we intend to evolve and refine this model so that there will be opportunities for schools to be considered in the future. This is an evolving model. This is the first time we have been in a position to add to the number of schools and we have done so on a fair and objective basis-----
Comment on this
-----based on CSO data which is the best material available to us.