DEIS status schools have never been more important with the rising costs of living. DEIS status was awarded to a number of schools in Tipperary. However, Coláiste Dún Iascaigh in Cahir and the Edmund Rice Secondary School, Carrick-on-Suir, among others, were left out and denied DEIS status. They have appealed, as the Department told them to do. They are awaiting the results of the appeal. They were dearly hoping to get results before the summer break, so they can plan for the reopening of the school in the coming September. We hope they will be successful in getting DEIS status, because is vitally important nowadays, especially with the costs of sending children to school, as well as the costs of food, lunches and everything else. DEIS status is important to those schools and especially, as I said, Edmund Rice Secondary School in Carrick-on-Suir and Coláiste Dún Iascaigh in Cahir.

I commend the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, on taking the decision to expand DEIS. This has been the largest and most significant expansion of the DEIS programme. A recent ESRI study has shown the programme, since it was first initiated, has been a very significant contributing factor to better outcomes in education in the Republic, as opposed to outcomes in Northern Ireland. There is a shared island research study in that regard. A separate, independent body assesses who qualifies and who does not. It will go to an appeal. I understand the outcomes of the appeals should be within the next fortnight. It is hoped the schools the Deputy has referenced can be successful in their appeal. There is an independent mechanism for determining this.