Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

What I am seeking in terms of this question is information relating to the process for inclusion of schools in the DEIS programme. We have heard a lot about census figures and the HP deprivation index and what it comprises but we have not heard on what basis it was applied to individual schools. There has been a real failing in that regard. Since I last raised this issue in the Dáil, there has been a controversy around schools wrongly on the list and schools that were not included. There has been controversy in the media this week by one of the originators of the HP Deprivation Index, Mr. Haase, in terms of how the Minister is proceeding in this matter. There is huge concern about the roll-out of this programme.

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