Lorraine Higgins (Labour)
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I wish to raise an issue regarding the funding policy pursued by the Department when it comes to the amalgamation of DEIS schools with non-DEIS schools. I recently visited a secondary school in my constituency in County Galway, which was originally a regular school but which amalgamated with a DEIS school. As soon as this new entity was established, and despite the fact that all these new students were assimilated into the school, the special status funding stream was withdrawn.

The pupils and staff find themselves in a situation where 59% of the school population are medical card holders and despite the presence of a large number of students from an ethnic minority - about 30 students - the school does not qualify for a Traveller liaison officer because 33 students from this background are required for this. The school does not have a school liaison officer, which also presents problems, given some issues in families and possible suspicion of teachers and people from the school. All this has an impact on the students and the quality of their learning if teachers and the school principal have to invest resources and time and money to assist in whatever way they can. The school is already looking at possibly having to withdraw the free books scheme in the school, which it did not qualify for under the departmental guidelines because it already had one in place prior to the Department putting forward funding. It may also have to revise its ability to give breakfast free to its students.

All this means that the already stretched funding streams will be further impacted. It will have a knock-on effect on the quality of services being provided to many students from disadvantaged backgrounds in this area. The cohort of students has not changed. If anything, it has become more challenging for teachers and students alike in the absence of specific funding to assist, which would have been available to the DEIS school. Discretion must be used now. If this is not done, children who would traditionally have done their junior certificate as a result of having all these supports in place in a DEIS school and who no longer have these supports under the new amalgamated structure will fall through the cracks. I am eager to avoid this if at all possible. I urge the Minister of State and the Department to review the policy of withdrawing funding for those DEIS schools that have amalgamated with non-DEIS schools, in the interests of fairness and equality of opportunity in education.

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Again, I will answer on behalf of my colleague, the Minister, who could not make it to the House today and who sends her apologies. I thank the Senator for raising this matter. It is an important issue and one that many of us have seen in our own areas. The current policy of my Department in relation to school amalgamations involving DEIS and non-DEIS schools is that where such an amalgamation occurs, DEIS status is not retained by the newly established school. However, as a transitional measure, these schools continue to be supported by way of additional financial and non-teaching resources in respect of the number of eligible pupils from the former DEIS school.

This transitional measure remains in place for a specific period of time. Once the new school has been operating for six school years, it is deemed that the cohort of disadvantaged students from the former DEIS school will have passed through the second level system or be in their final year of schooling. Accordingly, any additional resources and funding, which would have been based on the final enrolment of the now closed DEIS school, would cease. This arrangement supports the pupil cohort of the former DEIS school for the duration of their second level education and represents a continuation of support for this targeted group.

As the Senator will be aware, the programme for Government commits to addressing educational disadvantage and delivering better outcomes for students in disadvantaged areas. The recently published ESRI report, Learning from the Evaluation of DEIS, which was commissioned by my Department, provides an opportunity to review the scheme. The report assesses the main findings of research to date on the DEIS programme and provides advice to inform future policy direction in respect of educational disadvantage.

As the Senator may also be aware, the Minister, Deputy O'Sullivan, has commenced consultation with the education partners to inform the development of appropriate measures to continue to support those at risk of poor educational outcomes. She is also establishing an inter-departmental working group, which will ensure a joined-up approach to the delivery of DEIS services. A technical group has already commenced work to develop a revised identification process for schools. This work will continue over the course of the next school year. The consultation process will encapsulate all aspects of the DEIS programme, including the arrangements for school amalgamations involving DEIS and non-DEIS schools. Hopefully the issue the Senator has raised will also be addressed through that.

The outcome of this process will form part of an overall proposal for the delivery of future interventions to tackle educational disadvantage. In the meantime, the Minister does not propose to make any changes to current policy as regards the status of new schools involving the amalgamation of DEIS and non-DEIS schools. I thank the Senator once again for raising this matter.

Lorraine Higgins (Labour)
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I thank the Minister for his response. I welcome it and think that something proactive is being undertaken by the Department. It is important that special consideration is given to what I see as unfair situations with regard to DEIS and non-DEIS schools that have amalgamated and the withdrawal of particular funding streams that would have a significant impact on the lives of children from disadvantaged backgrounds. I will give the Minister of State the details of the school I have spoken about and ask that consideration be given to its circumstances. I know it cannot be given consideration beyond that given to other schools, but I ask that he take into consideration its particular circumstances and act in a proactive and positive manner in that respect.

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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If the Senator gives me the details, I will pass them on to the Minister.I know there are specific issues relating to one school and we can get them looked at. The policy must be used equally throughout the country. If any area is missing out on anything, we can get it looked at.