Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 94: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will reinstate a secondary school (details supplied) in the County Donegal Gaeltacht that is currently ineligible for DEIS and Gaeltacht scholarships. [33989/12]

Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 96: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the County Donegal Gaeltacht region that has an unemployment rate higher than the national average; if he agrees that students living in Gaeltacht regions are being prevented from availing of third level education as a result of a range of social and economic factors; and if he will reverse the decision to stop Pobalscoil from receiving access to scholarships and bring to an end the Scolaireachtaí Gaeltachta for Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair. [33991/12]

Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 97: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he is committed to Straitéis 20 Bliain and if he will reinstate the Gaeltacht scholarships in Ghaoth Dobhair in order that young people living in that part of County Donegal have the opportunity to access third level education. [33992/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take questions 94, 96 and 97 together.

The school referred to by the Deputy never had DEIS status as it was not selected for inclusion in DEIS following the identification process in 2005. Second-level schools were selected for DEIS by reference to centrally-held data from the Post-Primary Pupils and State Examinations Commission databases. The identification process was in line with international best practice and had regard to, and employed, the existing and most appropriate data sources available. An appeal by this school to the independent review body in 2006 confirmed that the level of disadvantage did not warrant the school's inclusion in the DEIS programme. A key priority for my Department is to prioritise and target resources in schools with the most concentrated levels of educational disadvantage. That challenge is significant given the current economic climate and the target to reduce public expenditure. This also limits the capacity for any additionality in the DEIS programme including the selection of further schools.

As announced in the 2012 Budget, five scholarship schemes for higher education, namely the Easter Week 1916 Commemoration Scholarship Scheme, An Scéim Scoláireachtaí Triú Leibhéal do Scoláirí ón nGaeltacht, An Scéim Scoláireachtaí Gaeilge Triú Leibhéal (Neamh Theoranta), An Scéim Scolaireachtaí Triú Leibhéal (Trí Ghaeilge: Teoranta) and the Donogh O'Malley Scholarship Scheme, will be replaced with a new single scheme of bursaries based both on merit and financial need. The three Irish Scholarships were awarded without the application of any socio-economic criteria. The new bursaries, on the other hand, are designed specifically to target students attending DEIS schools in disadvantaged areas and also indicating a level of personal or family disadvantage by virtue of having qualified for a medical card.

This change has been made in order to make the best use of scarce resources so as to focus on the best performing students in the cohort of those who are most in need of financial help. These changes will not impact on those who already hold scholarships under the existing schemes.

The principal financial support made available by my Department to facilitate access to third level education continues to be the means-tested student grant, which includes the higher special rate of grant for students from welfare dependent families who meet the specified requirements. The Student Assistance Fund at college level is also available to assist students in particular financial difficulties.