Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome what the Minister of State has said about additional funding for the DEIS scheme. That is welcome. However, it is frustrating for a school that still falls outside the scheme, especially when it relies so much on programmes such as the school completion programme and various other programmes. I am glad the Minister of State acknowledged the school in question is working to try to be inclusive. I agree that is what we want our schools to be. If we are being honest, not all schools take that approach and Scoil Mhuire Lourdes girls' school should be commended on that. I am glad the Minister of State mentioned that.

Could we get some information from the NCSE? It says it feels there is an adequate level of special classes in the area but Scoil Mhuire Lourdes girls' school would very much argue against that. It would point to growing demand in the area.

Some people might have a difficulty with the following but it is a point I wish to make. This is an all-girls school. We have recently had many discussions in the Chamber about gender and sending out the right message. We have very young girls, from junior infants up to sixth class, being taught in substandard accommodation and not getting the supports they should. We are failing in that regard. There is an argument for Scoil Mhuire Lourdes girls' school to get DEIS status. If there are any updates on the review, they could be provided to the school. I appreciate the Minister of State will not have it now but could we get some information from the NCSE as to the rationale behind its decision? I would think that is open to argument.

The reason I mentioned climate change is that the argument the school is making is that it is right there on the doorstep of the Tullow community and it would save people travelling if the school had an autism spectrum disorder class.

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