Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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35. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a school (details supplied) in County Kildare which is fighting to retain supports, including a home school liaison staff member; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16703/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, the school in question is not a DEIS school but was established on 1st September 2011 following the amalgamation of three local post primary schools in the area, two of which were DEIS schools.

Where amalgamations take place, comprising DEIS and Non-DEIS schools, DEIS status is not transferred to the newly amalgamated school. Notwithstanding this fact, my Department has continued to provide some additional non-teaching resources, including the services of a Home School Community Liaison Coordinator, in respect of the number of eligible pupils from the former DEIS schools. These resources are provided by way of continued support for the targeted cohort of pupils as a transitional measure until the pupils in question have completed their post primary education. In the case of a post-primary school, these supports are provided for six years.

Given that the cohort of pupils from the former DEIS schools will have completed their second level education at the end of the current school year, the additional DEIS related resources from which this school has benefitted, will cease with effect from the end of the current school year.

This procedure has been notified to the school and outlined in a response to representations made on behalf of the school. I also met recently with representatives of the school and their public representatives and where they outlined their perspective and concerns. I have asked my officials to examine the issues raised.

It is important to note that the situation in relation to the school in question is entirely unrelated to the actions contained in the DEIS Plan 2017. This procedure in relation to amalgamations between DEIS and non-DEIS schools has been applied uniformly since the inception of DEIS.