Educational Disadvantage

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 December 2015

Tuesday, 8 December 2015

Questions (468)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

468. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the circumstances surrounding the loss of delivering equality of opportunity in schools status when Scoil Damhnait and McHale College merged to become Coláiste Pobail Acla in County Mayo, given that the larger McHale College previously had this status and took on the extra students when Scoil Damhnait closed, given that parents were informed that this status would not be affected and given that there are now nine national schools with this status feeding into a secondary school without this status in one of the most economically disadvantaged areas in the State; the persons who made the decision to remove this status from the school, and her plans to rectify this as a matter of urgency. [43527/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

As the Deputy is aware Coláiste Pobail Acla was established on 1st September 2011 following the amalgamation of a DEIS post-primary school, McHale College and Non DEIS post-primary school, Scoil Damhnait. In line with all such amalgamations, the new school will continue to receive the current level of supports in respect of the number of eligible pupils from the former DEIS school until that pupil cohort have left the school. In the case of Coláiste Pobail Acla these supports continue to be supplied for 6 years following the amalgamation. You will be aware that the process for the review of the DEIS Programme is currently underway in my Department. This process is being undertaken over the course of the current school year and will consider all issues pertaining to educational disadvantage. I hope to be in a position to make an overall proposal for the delivery of future interventions to tackle educational disadvantage after that. While this process is underway, I do not intend to make any changes to the current DEIS programme.