Colm Keaveney (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his factual and selective presentation. However, the report presents alarming information. It states that poorer families are not normally in a position to co-operate with these services and, as a consequence, when the school applies for support without the correct data, it is turned down. It found that the rules built into the scheme, particularly in respect of DEIS schools, are too rigid. The report is somewhat soul destroying in this regard. When I checked the hours allocated to schools in more affluent areas, I was disturbed to find that a high level of extra hours were given to parents in these areas relative to DEIS areas. I recognise that the challenges differ for people living in the different parts of this country but the presence of a DEIS school in a community is an indication that issues of poverty exist. Given the failure identified in the report in respect of adequate engagement to secure better outcomes for children, I ask the Minister of State to outline how he proposes to address that challenge.

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