Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Of course it is going to be operational in September 2022. We have known that since last year when the budget was allocated for this year. We knew that. When are the schools going to be notified? Is the Minister saying they will be notified on the eve of it becoming operational or are they going to be notified in August or perhaps July, June or April? Does she know when schools are going to be notified? Schools have to plan and they need to know now whether they fall under a DEIS category, which changes the workforce they will be able to look at next year. Schools are planning at this stage, particularly secondary schools for the options that will be available for students.

Does the Department know when that will be published? I am not referring to when it becomes operational; we all know that is happening in September. When will schools be notified that they are either in or out? I appreciate the work. I am glad the Minister has secured that funding. I know there is work to be done but this was agreed in October and it is now February. Are we going to be waiting a number of months? Can the Minister give us perhaps not a date but a month, at least, when schools will be notified of this issue?

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