Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister's increased supports for urban primary DEIS programme schools that are catering for our young people experiencing the highest level of educational disadvantage. The additional supports will assist four primary schools in Longford town, including St. Michael's National School, St. Joseph's National School, the Gaelscoil, Scoil Eimear, and Sacred Heart Primary School in Granard. Any additional investment in the DEIS education model is widely welcome. It is never more welcome than in the midst of the Covid-19 crisis because it is clear these students are among those who have missed out most on education and learning at this time.

I know the Minister has been a great advocate for the DEIS model. I understand there is a review under way into the criteria for accessing the DEIS model. It is a long-overdue review and I hope it will address several of the failings within the current system. For example, the four primary schools in Longford town as well as several of the six rural DEIS schools in the county have provided more than 50% of the student population to two of our secondary schools in Longford town. The excellent Templemichael College already had DEIS status. However, neither St. Mel's College nor Meán Scoil Mhuire have DEIS status. We have a situation where students who have come through their primary education with the obvious benefit and support of the DEIS model suddenly transition to secondary school and those vital supports stop automatically. That is most unfair to the children as we seek to give them the best possible start in their lives.

The Minister is also aware of the fast-tracking of the decarbonisation in the midlands. I am keen that we could look at affording DEIS status to the primary schools in Clontuskert and Lanesborough, which are within the immediate vicinity of the Bord na Móna and ESB facility in Lanesborough. I hope the Minister can take on board these things.

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