Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 70: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will clarify the position with regard to DEIS status for a school (details supplied); if he will ensure that the school, a new school representing the amalgamation of three schools, two of which had DEIS status, is given full DEIS status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7099/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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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 an integrated School Support Programme (SSP). Prior to the amalgamation of the schools, in the town in question, in September 2011, and as a result of the identification and review processes carried out in 2005/06, 2 of the 3 schools were selected to participate in the School Support Programme (SSP).

The policy of my Department is to continue to provide supports to the newly amalgamated school in respect of the number of eligible pupils from the former DEIS schools. While a key priority for me is to continue to prioritise and target resources at schools with the most concentrated levels of educational disadvantage, the current economic climate and the challenge to meet significant targets on reducing public expenditure and operating within a ceiling on overall teacher numbers, limits opportunities and means that there is no capacity to provide for an extension of full DEIS status to newly amalgamated post-primary schools.

Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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Question 71: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if all DEIS schools in the country are being included in the review initiated by him in response to the budget cuts to them including band 1 and 2 schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7108/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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My Department is currently finalising the report on the impact of the withdrawal of posts under older schemes on DEIS Band 1 and Band 2 primary schools only for submission to me this week. On receipt of this report, I will then make a decision on the final outcome for the individual schools involved and the staffing schedules for 2012/2013 will then be finalised and published in the coming weeks.

Questions Nos. 72 and 73 answered with Question No. 49.