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

I will raise two matters that are connected to DEIS in that the programme does not apply fully to some schools. Evidence gathered on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in America indicates that children and families were displaced for considerable periods and that children's education suffered in the long term. In a Dáil motion, we have argued that the Department should act on child homelessness and access to education. The Irish National Teachers Organisation, INTO, developed a protocol but there has been nothing from the Department since the motion was discussed, which is a real shame. We need something to direct schools on how to deal with child homelessness in non-DEIS schools.

Some schools, such as a school whose name I will supply to the Minister in the form of a note, do not have full DEIS benefits but are in areas ravaged by gang crime. They see kids influenced or affected by gangs, and in some cases, at age nine or ten, they work for gangs or are being nurtured by gang members. I know representatives from some of those schools have met departmental officials as they want extra support from the Department. They make a very good case, although they have not gone public on this. There should also be input from the Department of Justice and Equality. There is a range of issues but schools are confident they can work with children who are affected by gang crime if given sufficient resources. I urge the Department, when it reviews DEIS, to look at this as a matter of urgency. I will give the name of the school in a note if that is okay.

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