Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Earlier this week, the schools that acquired DEIS status were announced. Tipperary town, which has five primary schools, has suffered from much social deprivation over a number of years. There is serious unemployment there and much social housing and social issues. The criteria that must be met for a school to obtain DEIS status would seem to be tailor-made for Tipperary town. We had a public meeting in November which the five Deputies and other local representatives attended. The five schools came together and put the information forward on the problems in their town. They gave the numbers of underprivileged children attending, including foreign nationals and Travellers. All the criteria seemed to fit perfectly for acquiring DEIS status. We were very surprised and disappointed when the announcement was made earlier in the week that none of the five schools in the town got status. The town has suffered many blows and it would be a major advancement for the educational infrastructure if DEIS status were given to the schools.

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