Michael D'Arcy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise the matter of the designation of DEIS status for primary schools. Such schools were designated in the early part of the previous decade in the period 2003 to 2004 with implementation in 2005. The phrase, "That was then and this is now" is used with reference to other sectors. However, for many who are the new disadvantaged, the designation is wrong. There are far too many schools with DEIS status which no longer require it and far too many schools which require the designation very badly. I ask the Leader to arrange a debate with the Minister for Education and Skills. Hundreds of millions of euro are spent on DEIS schools every year. I ask that this money be spent on the schools most in need and that any alteration should be cost-neutral.

In my view, the Minister and his Department have been very lazy with regard to this matter. Public representatives from all parts of the country say they know of schools that no longer require DEIS status while others schools which are badly in need do not have DEIS designation. The people who pay the price are the children in those schools. I ask the Leader to arrange an immediate debate. This is a very important issue. We were told about 18 months ago that this designation would be given in September 2013. However, there is no light at the end of the tunnel. The matter is being handled in a very lazy way by the Department and the Minister and it must stop. Perhaps this request will prod the Department and the Minister into action.