Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

My objective is to ensure that every child who comes to our schools from a background of social disadvantage or with a special need can fulfil his or her potential. I have reviewed both the DEIS scheme and the resource teaching allocation scheme and I am investing €70 million extra in those programmes in the coming year. This is the first time in eight years that any new school has been introduced to this scheme. We have 80 new schools coming in. I admit that it is two per constituency and that many Deputies will be able to point to other schools which they would like to see included. I assure Deputies, however, that this has been done on a fair and objective basis using objective data unlike the previous occasion when it was done very haphazardly. This is fair and objective. Of course, we will refine it over time. Anyone who feels a case has not been fairly assessed can look for a review of the selection. I recognise that what we are doing here is selecting the schools with the greatest needs. These 80 schools are the ones which were identified as having the greatest needs. That is where my resources are going. I assure the House that I am committed to continuing to improve the way we deploy resources to assist the children with the greatest need in our schools.

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