Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The truth is that many schools did not bother to apply for DEIS status because they did not want it. Some principals, on whom we rely to gather the data, were not as good at gathering them as others. We are now using an objective method for making decisions which will no longer be based on who was more strenuous in collecting data or anything of that nature. Decisions are based on hard information and statistics which are available. This is the fairest approach. We have to be fair to every school.