Michael D'Arcy (Fine Gael)

An important issue I have raised for some time concerns several schools that met the DEIS qualifying criteria in 2005 but were not awarded DEIS status by the Department of Education and Skills. I am eager for it to be realised these schools cannot take the same cuts as normal schools.

Courtown, County Wexford, is in the second fastest growing area in the country with a population of 5,000. Its school, Riverchapel national school, met the DEIS criteria in 2005 but did not get the status. It is now expected to take the same reduction in school allocations as other rural schools or those in better-off areas.

I realise the financial implications that giving these schools DEIS status may cause for the Department's budget. However, will the Department identify the schools which met the criteria but were not awarded DEIS status? The Minister and the Department made a mistake with the significant cutbacks to DEIS schools in the last budget. This was rectified on the basis it was wrong. Another rectification is required in this case. We cannot abandon the children in these schools as they are the most vulnerable and exposed in our State. I hope the Minister's response tonight will not be the standard stock response just prepared by somebody in the Department because this matter exercises me much. I want the message to go out clearly that something must be done to resolve this matter. This cannot be a question of sitting back saying, "Ah sure, it will be all right".