Michael D'Arcy (Fine Gael)
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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".

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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I am pleased to have this opportunity to clarify the position on primary schools and DEIS. The action plan for educational inclusion is the Department's policy instrument to address educational disadvantage and which focuses on addressing and prioritising the educational needs of children and young people from disadvantaged communities from preschool through second level education. The identification process in the primary sector was based on a survey carried out by the education research centre in May 2005 in line with international best practice. The process had regard to and employed the existing and most appropriate data sources available.

It is important to note that an independent review process was available to schools that did not qualify for DEIS but regarded themselves as having a level of disadvantage which was of a scale sufficient to warrant their inclusion in the programme. The results of the review were notified to schools in August 2006 and schools which succeeded in the appeal process were added to the programme. Schools which were unsuccessful in the initial identification and subsequent review processes have never been admitted to the DEIS programme.

It must be noted that all children from disadvantaged backgrounds in all schools, including non-DEIS schools, can avail of the free books scheme. Families experiencing financial difficulties can avail of the back to school clothing and footwear allowance, family income supplement, supplemental welfare service, exceptional needs payments and urgent needs payments, all administered by the Department of Social Protection.

A key priority for the Department is to prioritise and target resources in schools with the most concentrated levels of educational disadvantage. That challenge is significant given the current economic climate and the target to reduce public expenditure. This also limits the capacity at present for the inclusion of any new schools in the DEIS programme. In this context, the Minister has no plans to undertake the type of exercise to which the Senator refers.

It is important to note also that the total provision for educational inclusion programmes in 2012 is approximately €720 million across all levels of education. This includes early education, primary and second level, further education programmes and third level student support schemes. In addition, funding for the National Educational Welfare Board, the school completion programme, youth projects and early education is provided by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. While the majority of schools include among their pupils children with disadvantaged backgrounds, in general, most schools will successfully address the individual needs of these children without recourse to additional targeted resources.

Michael D'Arcy (Fine Gael)
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The Minister has stated he will not identify the schools in question but that "a key priority for the Department is to prioritise and target resources in schools with the most concentrated levels of educational disadvantage." He has clearly decided to abandon those schools which should have DEIS status and have met the criteria for it. That is wrong. I will be moving an all-party motion on identifying these schools and I hope other parties will support me on this.