Michael Ring
Question:339 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science if the present level of support to a school (details supplied) in County Mayo will be continued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5622/07]
View answerWednesday, 14 February 2007
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Written answers
DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools), the action plan for educational inclusion, provides for a standardised system for identifying levels of disadvantage and a new integrated School Support Programme. DEIS will bring together, and build upon, a number of existing interventions in schools with a concentrated level of disadvantage.
As a result of the identification and review process, 873 schools have been included under the DEIS action plan. These comprise 670 primary schools and 203 second-level schools. In relation to schools that did not qualify for the new programme, it is important to note that an independent review process was available to them. Additional schools were added to the programme as a result of making successful review applications. I am satisfied that all schools have been assessed on the basis of the best information available, have been ranked in terms of the right criteria and have been given a fair opportunity to appeal.
Unsuccessful schools were advised at an early stage that they would be allowed to keep the supports that they have under pre-existing schemes for the current school year. My Department is now in the process of informing these schools that they will retain additional teaching resources for the duration of the DEIS Action Plan. The effectiveness of these posts will be reviewed in line with the ongoing review process in place for DEIS schools. It will be a condition of the retention of such posts that schools comply with any reasonable requirements of the review process.
Schools which presently participate in the Home School Community Liaison Scheme will not be excluded from the scheme and will, from the commencement of the 2007/2008 school year continue to avail of HSCL Services for the duration of the DEIS Action Plan. The level of service will be commensurate with both the size of the school as well as its relative level of disadvantage.
Many schools at present retain additional capitation from previous schemes which have now been subsumed into DEIS. From the beginning of the 2007/2008 school year this capitation will be offset against increases in the rate of general capitation. This process will take four years and will ensure that no school will experience a reduction in annual capitation as a result of this measure. Changes may of course arise from other factors such as enrolments.