Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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49. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will award DEIS status to a school (details supplied) in County Mayo, so that its pupils will have parity with pupils in neighbouring schools and so that they will not suffer any disadvantage through no fault of theirs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43694/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I would like to point out that an extensive identification process to select schools for inclusion in DEIS was conducted in 2005. In spite of a number of reminders issued by my Department, a completed survey form was not received at that time from the school in question and therefore it could not be assessed for participation in DEIS. Furthermore, the school did not participate in a follow-up appeal process to address the concerns of schools that did not qualify for DEIS status.

As the Deputy will no doubt be aware, a process for the review of the DEIS Programme which I announced earlier this year, is currently underway in my Department. This review is being undertaken over the course of the current school year and will consider all issues pertaining to educational disadvantage, including the methodology for identifying schools for inclusion in future programmes.While this process is underway, I do not intend to make any changes to the current programme, including the addition of any further schools.