Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 489: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of schools in south Tipperary which receive funding as part of the DEIS programme; the amount each school has received each year for the past five years; the projects or resources funded in each school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35373/09]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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There are 8 Primary and 5 Post Primary schools in south Tipperary included in the DEIS programme and they will continue to receive funding as part of this programme in 2009. Names and addresses of the relevant schools are provided. DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools), the action plan for educational inclusion, provides for a standardised system for identifying levels of disadvantage and an integrated School Support Programme (SSP). It brings together and builds upon a number of existing interventions in schools with concentrated levels of disadvantage.

DEIS provides various supports for both primary and post primary schools. These include: - reduced pupil teacher ratio in primary schools in urban areas with most disadvantage. - allocation of administrative principal on lower figures than generally apply in primary schools in urban areas. - additional capitation funding based on level of disadvantage. - additional funding for schools books. - access to School Meals Programme - access to numeracy/literacy supports and measures at primary level. - access to Home School Community Liaison/Rural Co-ordinator services. - access to School Completion Programme. - enhanced guidance counselling provision at post primary level. - access to planning supports. - provision for school library and librarian support at second level - access to Junior Certificate School Programme and Leaving Certificate Applied - access to range of professional development supports.

In respect of the 2008/2009 school year, grants amounting to approximately €10.5 million and almost €3.5 million issued respectively to the 673 primary and 203 second level schools included in the DEIS programme. The Deputy should be aware that it is not the practice of my Department to publish the resources provided to individual schools without the consent of the schools in question. Likewise it is not my Department's policy to provide data on individual schools in a particular area which would enable comparisons to be made on their relative levels of disadvantage.