Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 34: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason he is withdrawing the rural co-ordinator from a school (details supplied) in County Donegal even though it has DEIS status; the difference between rural schools and urban schools in the DEIS scheme; the reason this school is viewed as a non-DEIS school for the purposes of this cutback even though it is a DEIS school in every other respect; if the grant paid in lieu of this cutback will be sufficient to hire a learning support teacher; if he will reverse this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7918/09]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Following the introduction of DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunities in Schools), a commitment was given, as a concessionary measure, to Non DEIS schools in receipt of resources under pre-existing schemes, including the Rural Coordinator service, that they would retain a level of support in line with their size and disadvantage levels for the duration of the DEIS Initiative. Unfortunately, given the current volatile and challenging economic climate, difficult choices had to be made in order to contain public sector spending. One of these decisions is the withdrawal of the Rural Co-ordinator services from all NON DEIS schools with effect from September 2009.

Consequently, it has been necessary to re-cluster some DEIS schools which were sharing posts with Non DEIS schools to date. I am pleased to advise that the DEIS school referred to by the Deputy will be included in a new cluster of schools with effect from 1 September 2009 and will continue to benefit from the services of a Rural Coordinator. The school was advised of this new arrangement on 12 February 2009.

In relation to the supports available under the DEIS programme, the following supports are available to both urban and rural DEIS schools:

additional non-pay/capitation allocation based on level of disadvantage;

financial allocation to support the operation of a school book rental scheme;

access to the School Meals Programme;

access to Home School Community Liaison or Rural Co-ordinator services — access to planning supports.

In addition to this, urban DEIS schools also benefit from:

reduced class size of 20:1 in junior classes and 24:1 in senior classes (Band 1 urban schools only);

allocation of administrative principal on lower enrolment and staffing figures than apply in primary schools generally;

access to literacy/numeracy supports such as Reading Recovery, First Steps, Maths Recovery;

access to the School Completion Programme.