Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I placed this matter on the agenda for debate because it is an important issue for schools in my and the Leas-Cheann Comhairle's county of Donegal and one with which the Minister for Education and Skills is familiar. It was the first opportunity for the Minister, Deputy McHugh, to address the house in his ministerial capacity, and I must say that I am disappointed that he has not shown up. I am more disappointed for the schools that we will reference in this debate that he has not shown up for them.

There are many challenges in the education sector in Donegal, for example, the three school campus projects and the schools building projects for Gaelscoil na gCeithre Máistrí in Donegal town and St. Mary's in Stranorlar, to name but a few. There are many other challenges in terms of the pay and conditions of the staff who work within our school environments.

However, today I want to revisit an issue the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and I have jointly addressed in the House numerous times, namely, the issue of DEIS schools and the failure to afford DEIS status to a number of schools in Donegal. Last year, we raised the issue of four schools in particular, Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair, of which I was a pupil many years ago, Scoil Náisiúnta Ghort an Choirce, Scoil Náisiúnta Rann na Feirste, and Scoil Náisiúnta Mhín Tine Dé. Despite the fact that an additional 79 schools were added to the DEIS scheme last year, these four schools were not part of the complement awarded DEIS status.

I will address with the Minister of State the issue of some of those schools. It is of note that all the national schools in the parish of Gaoth Dobhair have DEIS status. When children advance to second level in Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair, however, they lose the advantage of attending a school with DEIS status. The reason that is the case is due to the educational attainment of the students as a result of the professionalism of the staff in that school who have supported students to achieve their best. They are being punished because of their success in that respect. Notwithstanding that, the pupils who enter that school every morning at a few minutes past nine come from a disadvantaged area. The 2016 census indicates the area is now more disadvantaged that it was in 2011.

Gort an Choirce national school has not secured disadvantaged status, despite the fact that the secondary school in the area, Pobalscoil Chloich Cheannfhaola, has disadvantaged status. The area of Gort an Choirce is disadvantaged. The index score from the 2016 census shows that levels of disadvantage in the area increased dramatically between 2011 and 2016. The school in Rann na Feirste is in a similar position, as is the school in Mín Tine Dé.

When we raised this issue last year - I raised it again earlier this year - we were told by the Minister that a review of all schools would be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2018. We were also told it would take account of the updated census data, which I have just cited showing that the areas in which these schools are located have become more disadvantaged than they were previously. Account was to be taken of the new data and we were told a decision would be made as soon as possible.

Children have been back in school since September and their schools still do not have the supports that should be in place for children attending schools in disadvantaged areas. Such supports include additional resources, school meals programmes and additional teaching capacity to make sure that all the challenges the children face are addressed in a meaningful way.

If the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Joe McHugh, had shown the decency to turn up in the Chamber, I would have taken the opportunity to congratulate him, his family and our county on his elevation to the position of Minister. However, that also involves turning up and delivering. I have a question for the new Minister. When will these four schools be awarded DEIS status? It is blindingly obvious that they are entitled to and should be awarded DEIS status and ridiculous we have had to wait this long. Children are not meeting their full potential because of the degree of red tape within the Department of Education of Skills.

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