Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for coming to address the House today. I have raised the matter of DEIS schools in the House. I very much welcome the expansion of the programme. However, as some of my colleagues have pointed out, there are some issues regarding transparency and the criteria required for entry onto the scheme. The DEIS expansion is something welcomed by Fianna Fáil. It is a program that was initiated by it and plays a significant role in tackling social exclusion and helping disadvantaged children.

Selection criteria is a significant issue, and the process seems to be shrouded in secrecy. I met the Minister earlier this year regarding a school in Walkinstown, the Assumption Junior School, which lost a class on the basis that it did not have enough pupils. It was awarded disadvantaged school status. The school to which I refer is an island in a sea of DEIS schools in what is probably one of the most deprived areas of our city. The school had not been awarded DEIS status on the basis that the teachers work very hard to get good results for the children attending the school. It is a fantastic school, but one which faces many challenges.

There have been some interesting discriminatory factors regarding to how a school is awarded DEIS status. For instance, the girls' and boys' primary schools and the girls' secondary school were not awarded DEIS status, but the boys from the primary school attend a school across the road, Drimnagh Castle, which was awarded DEIS status. There is direct discrimination between boys and girls. Boys attend a DEIS school, which has a smaller pupil-teacher ratios, home liaison services, the school completion programme, better access to literacy and numeracy supports and other such benefits.

The principal of the Assumption Junior School in Walkinstown questioned the Higher Education Authority as to why it was excluded and received a very interesting reply. The HEA recommended that the principal check the POD data to ensure that all children pupils had full addresses and Eircodes, where available. I have a small business in Crumlin village and have tried repeatedly to get an Eircode for my premises, without any success. For the HEA to tell a school that because it has not provided Eircodes it cannot be awarded DEIS states is something I cannot believe, and it needs to be challenged.

That the schools to which I refer have not been awarded DEIS status isy shameful, when there are social issues in the area and other schools around the country have been awarded DEIS status despite being in much more affluent areas. These children deserve a chance. Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí; cáin an óige agus clisfidh sí.

It is a real kick in the face of these schools, the teachers and the pupils who attend them.I ask the Minister to consider this school in particular. Perhaps he might reassess its status using a pod system or whatever else and grant it DEIS status.