Séamus Healy (Tipperary, Workers and Unemployed Action Group) | Oireachtas source

On Monday last, there was shock and disbelief in the five primary school communities in Tipperary town and throughout the town itself when it was revealed the five schools had failed to be designated under the DEIS programme. They are St. Joseph's girls national school, St. Michael's girls national school, St. Michael's junior boys school, Gaelscoil Thiobraid Árann and the Monastery boys school. These were left out of the 2005 designation.

Tipperary town is a designated RAPID town and has high levels of unemployment. The aggregate statistics for the schools are as follows: households headed by lone parents, 24.2%; households in which English is not the first language, 20%; low income households, 44.2%; students with special needs, 17.4%; students receiving learning support, 35%. These statistics appear to be tailor-made for meriting DEIS status for the schools. I ask the Minister to review the decision and designate the schools.

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