Earlier this week, the Minister published the DEIS plan.

This plan does not even restore the funding for DEIS schools to 2015 levels. There is actually €13 million less in funding, no plan to restore the rural co-ordinator and no plan to increase the number of NEPS psychologists. There are only ten additional NEPS psychologists which is inadequate for DEIS schools which are faced with a range of complex problems in disadvantaged communities. The figure the Minister provided from the Department that there were 500 schools without NEPS psychologists is not correct. I received a phone call from NEPS this very week and note to the Minister that there are actually 600 schools without NEPS psychologists. I ask the Minister to update the Dáil record to ensure he is not misleading the public or schools. I also ask the Minister to consider reinstating the funding to 2015 levels, reinstating the rural co-ordinator and ensuring that all schools across the State have adequate access to NEPS psychologists.

The review of DEIS took place this week. The programme for Government sets out the objectives of the DEIS programme. Tipperary town in my constituency had five schools applying for DEIS status which felt they should have qualified. Tipperary town ticks all of the boxes according to the DEIS criteria. We have been told there is no appeal process for schools to appeal the decision of the Minister. We would like it explained clearly to us why schools in a town like Tipperary, which is clearly disadvantaged, failed to qualify for DEIS status.

I was dismayed when I saw the list on Monday that not one school in either Dáil constituency in County Kildare had the opportunity to gain rural or urban DEIS status. One of the urban schools is the newest and biggest school in Newbridge where the children come from very socially disadvantaged backgrounds. In terms of rural areas, there are three at this point in time. As the Ceann Comhairle knows, we have many small rural schools in south Kildare. Whatever criteria were used, one school in Coill Dubh is very close to a school in Derrinturn-----

We cannot get into a debate on the schools.

Then I make the point that there needs to be a process whereby we can go back to them.

Only one extra DEIS school was announced in Kerry, which was Lyreacrompane national school, which I welcome. However, there are numerous schools in the county which should meet the criteria. Those schools need to be given the confidence that their matters will be addressed. This is urgent. On a related matter, we need to see as a matter of urgency the restoration of pre-crisis threshold levels for small schools.

That is a different matter. We cannot get into that now.

This is something that is hitting rural disadvantaged schools and it needs to be addressed urgently.

My objective is to ensure that every child who comes to our schools from a background of social disadvantage or with a special need can fulfil his or her potential. I have reviewed both the DEIS scheme and the resource teaching allocation scheme and I am investing €70 million extra in those programmes in the coming year. This is the first time in eight years that any new school has been introduced to this scheme. We have 80 new schools coming in. I admit that it is two per constituency and that many Deputies will be able to point to other schools which they would like to see included. I assure Deputies, however, that this has been done on a fair and objective basis using objective data unlike the previous occasion when it was done very haphazardly. This is fair and objective. Of course, we will refine it over time. Anyone who feels a case has not been fairly assessed can look for a review of the selection. I recognise that what we are doing here is selecting the schools with the greatest needs. These 80 schools are the ones which were identified as having the greatest needs. That is where my resources are going. I assure the House that I am committed to continuing to improve the way we deploy resources to assist the children with the greatest need in our schools.