Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 265: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on the issues raised in relation to a school (details supplied) in County Louth. [9222/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools), the action plan for educational inclusion, provides for a standardised system for identifying levels of disadvantage and a new integrated School Support Programme. DEIS will bring together, and build upon, a number of existing interventions in schools with a concentrated level of disadvantage.

As a result of the identification and review process, a total of 873 schools (670 primary and 203 post primary schools) identified to participate in DEIS will have access to a range of supports including participation in the School Completion Programme (SCP). Under DEIS, 43 new SCP projects are being established and 38 existing projects have had additional schools included to their projects.

In relation to the four primary schools referred to in the correspondence supplied by the Deputy that did not qualify for the new DEIS programme, it is important to note that an independent review process was available to them. Additional schools were added to the programme as a result of making successful review applications. I am satisfied that all schools have been assessed on the basis of the best information available, have been ranked in terms of the right criteria and have been given a fair opportunity to appeal.

Unsuccessful schools were advised at an early stage that they would be allowed to keep the supports that they have under pre-existing schemes for the current school year. Evidence generated from the pilot phases of the School Completion Programme showed that the most effective way of addressing early school leaving and educational disadvantage is through an integrated services approach based on the development of local strategies to ensure maximum participation levels in the education process. In 2002, the programme was significantly expanded based on the project model rather than continuing to fund individual schools.

Therefore, having considered the SCP clustering arrangements in conjunction with the SCP National Co-ordination Team, it was decided in this case that it is more beneficial to link the two post primary schools referred to in the correspondence supplied by the Deputy to an already established project.

The SCP services currently in place will not be diluted. The project is required to submit a revised Retention Plan for the current year to include the two new schools. Additional funding will then be allocated to the project on receipt of this plan. The SCP Co-ordination Team is currently assisting the project in establishing links with the new schools and providing advice in relation to all aspects of the changes required with the inclusion of the two new post primary schools.