Ms Cliodhna O'Neill:

It might be helpful for me to add one point that was not made earlier. When additional children arrive there is flexibility within the schoolbooks scheme, for example, for schools to apply for additional books. They may have bought fourth class books and may now need first class books, for example. There is a possibility to apply for additional funding once it relates to more than a handful of students. That does happen, schools apply and we pay out those grants throughout the year.

The review that was done by the OECD last year suggested that the Department should look at schools outside of the DEIS programme and how students are being supported. That is being considered for the long-term evolution of that programme in discussions with the DEIS advisory group and with the Minister.