Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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114. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills in view of demographic changes over the past decade, his plans to review the way schools are classified as DEIS schools; the number of schools classified as DEIS schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28670/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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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 limits the capacity for any additionality in the DEIS programme. In this context, I have no immediate plans to undertake the type of review to which the Deputy refers.

At present, there are 860 schools participating in the DEIS programme. These schools are categorised as follows:

Primary Urban Band 1 schools - 197

Primary Urban Band 2 schools - 144

Rural Primary schools - 324

Post Primary schools - 195