Seán Ardagh (Dublin South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 372: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will include a school (details supplied) in Dublin 8 in DEIS band 1, as requested by the principal and chairperson of the board of management in view of the disadvantages in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14169/09]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, 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 (SSP). DEIS brings together and builds upon a number of existing interventions in schools with concentrated levels of disadvantage. The process of identifying schools for participation in DEIS was managed by the Educational Research Centre (ERC) on behalf of my Department and was supported by quality assurance work co-ordinated through the Department's regional offices and the Inspectorate.

The school referred to by the Deputy has DEIS Urban Band 2 status and therefore qualifies for a range of supports including the following:

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

- additional financial allocation for school books

- access to numeracy/literacy supports and programmes

- access to Home School Community Liaison services

- access to School Completion Programme

- access to a range of professional development and planning supports

- access to the school meals programme.

A review mechanism was put in place in 2006 to address the concerns of schools that were dissatisfied with their DEIS classification. The review process operated under the direction of an independent person, charged with ensuring that all relevant identification processes and procedures were properly followed in the case of schools applying for a review. The review was concluded and the results were notified to schools who applied for the review in August, 2006. There was an application for review received from the school to which the Deputy refers. Regrettably, the school was unsuccessful in that process. The next identification process is scheduled to be held at the end of the current DEIS programme which runs from 2006-2010. There will not be an opportunity before this for the school to be considered for reclassification from DEIS Band 2 to DEIS Band 1.