Before I call on Deputy Jack Chambers I wish to indicate to Deputies Troy, Tony McLoughlin, Pearse Doherty, Carol Nolan and Éoin Ó Broin that I will ask the Ceann Comhairle to give them priority tomorrow because they have waited in vain to be called.

If they are here.

I note the Minister for Education and Skills is about to leave. He made a recent announcement about DEIS schools. My query relates to whether there is an appeals mechanism. Surprisingly, a number of schools were excluded from the list in spite of their extreme sociodemographic profile. Will the number of designated schools be increased in the future? Could the Minister outline his plans in that regard?

I assure the Deputy that the recommendation of the schools that are included on this occasion was based on independent analysis. Issues that were considered included the unemployment rates, the educational achievement of parents, the socioeconomic class, the occupancy of the houses in terms of overcrowding and population decline. It was a very fair and objective set of criteria.

Could the Minister circulate the list of criteria?

It was only the schools with the very highest levels of disadvantage that were agreed at this stage and they represent 2% of all the schools in the country.

Deputy Jack Chambers is correct; this is a first step and we plan to refine the process and we will consider other schools because there are undoubtedly schools that have a high level of disadvantage that could not be included on this occasion. It is a big improvement on the process of identification that previously existed. Schools can seek a review but it will be based on the model I outlined. Political considerations will not be brought into play.