Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As previously outlined, there was a phenomenal number of applications for the €1.5 million. I want to be clear and say that it was part of the application process. It was clearly outlined that €1.5 million was available. Maximum grants of approximately €10 million were made available. As stated, if all the applications had been successful, it would have cost approximately €25 million.

DEIS schools already receive considerable additional supports in comparison with non-DEIS schools. One in four of students attends a DEIS schools and 30% of our schools are in the DEIS programme. The spend on DEIS was more than €180 million in 2023. I take the Deputy's point that the school principal in question was very disappointed not to get access to this specific tranche of funding. I wish that there was more money available. Originally, €1.5 million was allocated. By the end of the process, the Department had put in €4.7 million. There was a constraint on the Department regarding the amount of money available to it. I am very happy to address the individual query highlighted by the Deputy.