Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have just come from a committee meeting. I thank the Cathaoirleach for choosing this matter because it is something I feel very strongly about. I also thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to respond to it.

I had submitted this Commencement matter before yesterday's announcement and did not have the information or knowledge I have now following the announcement. I was very pleased to see the major expansion of the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools, DEIS, programme announced yesterday. It is extended to an additional 310 schools, and 37 of the existing schools in the programme are being reclassified and are eligible for increased supports. That is incredibly important. I have always been a big supporter of this programme in schools. Indeed, I have seen the difference in many schools in Kildare. In fact, I taught in a school that was in the first classification back in 1990. I remember Sr. Concepta Conaty who worked on this programme and was a very strong advocate for it.

I believe the area of home-school liaison is incredibly important for supporting parents and guardians and providing co-operation across the entire school community. Yesterday morning, I was with the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, in Newbridge town hall with regard to women's health week and I was delighted to see that one of the home-school liaison teachers I know had brought mothers from the school. They might not necessarily have availed of that event if not for the opportunity to meet within that school community.

While I welcome the six additions in Kildare, there is one glaring absence, in my view, which I wish to discuss. I have always been a powerful advocate for inclusive education. Access to education must be universal and the education we provide must meet the needs of every individual student. Our education system must be adaptable and flexible, and offer adequate support to advance learning and development. That is exactly what the DEIS programme does. It focuses on targeting additional resources at schools with the highest concentration of students at risk of educational disadvantage. It provides the home-school liaison that I mentioned, school completion, hot meals, extra teaching supports and extra schoolbook schemes. It is very important.

I have been calling within the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party for the widening of the band for some time. I am very proud that it was a Fianna Fáil Government that introduced this and I welcome the work of Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, in respect of it. However, Scoil Na Naomh Uilig in Newbridge has still not been included and, for the life of me, I cannot understand why. I remember 2017 when the then system was expanded. I could not believe how this school, the newest and biggest school, catering for most certainly the children coming from more vulnerable backgrounds, was not included in 2017, and I was absolutely shocked to see that it was not included yesterday. I contacted the Minister's office immediately and I was told there will be a chance to appeal. I really cannot understand what is happening.When I look at the criteria being used, I fail to understand why this school was not included. The point is improving school attendance, participation and retention and that would benefit the whole school community. I am concerned for this school community. I know the former principal of the school extremely well and I know she spent so much time going out to the parents, trying to encourage them to send their children to school and working with them. At times, she felt like a social worker and she had to take that role on because there was no home school liaison or school completion officer. I ask for a strong message to go back to the Department to ensure Scoil Na Naomh Uilig is included.