Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I ask the Minister of State to reconsider the current position of Inver national school, afford DEIS status to the school and stop the existing discrimination against its pupils. From his educational data, the Minister of State will know well that this primary school is situated in an area of severe educational disadvantage that is thus designated. This position is supported by the INTO which has highlighted the challenges experienced on a daily basis on this account.

It is on the record that the process of identifying schools for participation in DEIS was managed by the Educational Research Centre on behalf of the Minister of State's Department. The identification process for qualifying schools was based on a survey sent out by the ERC in May 2005 which examined socio-economic conditions underpinning schools. The fact is that a completed survey form was never received from Inver national school, in spite of numerous communications to the school. As a result the school could not be assessed and, in consequence, it is not part of DEIS. Every other school in the Erris area has obtained DEIS status. Since 2005 some temporary supports were given in acknowledgment of the situation in which this school found itself but to date it has not been given the DEIS status it clearly deserves.

It is well-known to the Minister of State that the principal of the school at the time - and whosoever else was in charge - have done an unbelievable disservice to pupils and the community of Inver. The blame lies on whomsoever was in charge. The present position is due to the incompetence of this person and there is considerable distress within the school, among the teaching staff and the parents. Due to its exclusion, this school does not receive the same funding or book grant that every other primary school in the Erris area receives and it has been excluded from applying for certain grants such as for IT grants, etc. The school has already lost a teacher. The lack of DEIS status has also precluded the school from applying for community funding that was available.

I attach no blame of any kind to the Minister of State. I urge him, however, to treat this as a special case because it is one. Why should the pupils be left to pay the price because of the incompetence of an individual who had other things on her mind? There is no need for me to put the name of this person on the record of the House. She is well-known to the Minister of State and to the people in the community of Inver. I appeal to the Minister of State to make an allowance in this very special case. This community has suffered enough on account of local events in recent years. I ask him to please give the people a break.

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