Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 December 2015
496. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will restore delivering equality of opportunity in schools status to a school (details supplied) in County Mayo under the terms of the national review; when the review will be completed, if certain assurances were given to the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43755/15]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware the school in question was established on 1st September 2011 following the amalgamation of a DEIS post-primary school and Non DEIS post-primary school. In line with all such amalgamations, the new school continues 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 a post primary school, these supports continue to be supplied for 6 years following the amalgamation.
I am not aware of any assurances given to the school by my Department in relation to the retention of its DEIS status post amalgamation.
As you are aware the review of the DEIS Programme is currently under way in my Department. This process involves a number of strands and is being undertaken over the course of the current school year. It 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 under way, I do not intend to make any changes to the current programme.
