Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That is the same reply the Minister gave me last week, or the week before. There has obviously been no change in the Department. I urge the Minister to inquire again into the issue of gender inequality that is arising here. I appreciate her reply but ask her to listen to the point that no girl going to a primary school in Ardee is getting DEIS support, not one, while every boy is. That is not acceptable. Every boy attending primary school in Ardee is getting a hot meal at school while no girl attending is. Twins coming from the same address with the same mum and dad walk down the street and one goes to the boys' school while the other to the girls' school. The girl asks her mammy what is wrong with her that she cannot get the additional educational teaching supports. What is wrong is the formula. The formula is wrong. I urge the Minister to look at that issue again for the people and parents of Ardee and the girls. I swear to God, I cannot believe it. I am shocked and appalled that this is the outcome. It may be an exceptional outcome and Ardee may be the only town in Ireland where it is happening but it is happening today and is going to happen tomorrow. Funnily enough, on becoming 12 years of age, they will all be disadvantaged and then will be in a DEIS school. There is something radically wrong here. I urge the Minister or her departmental officials to meet the principal of the school for a constructive engagement to discuss this issue. We have to find a solution. The pupils must be treated equally. The present DEIS is discrimination in education and it is also gender discrimination in this particular case. There is no doubt at all about it.

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