Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. Will she confirm that this will happen in September 2022? This is around the time that schools traditionally prepare their staff and schedules. They need this information quickly if they are going to benefit from a DEIS designation. I have raised this matter in the past. In the previous DEIS allocation around, there was a significant missed opportunity for DEIS band 2 schools that could have gained, relating to home school, community liaison, school completion measures and so on, but that did not do so. The Minister has identified some of the stakeholders. There is also some wisdom and some observations from Opposition spokespersons. They have not been engaged with despite more than six requests on my part. I understand that the criteria have now been set. Is that the case? Many of us had observations to inform the criteria. Some of the stakeholders that the Minister identified were not asked their views about all of this either, as I understand it. Whom did she consult? Are the criteria now set? If not, will she inform me of that?

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