Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 December 2015
541. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills why a school (details supplied) in County Mayo does not have delivering equality of opportunity status, despite assurances to the contrary being given when two local schools, one with this status and one without it, were amalgamated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44220/15]
View answerThe 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 in relation to DEIS status of the newly amalgamated school given to the two local schools by my Department.
As you are aware the review of the DEIS Programme is currently underway 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 underway, I do not intend to make any changes to the current programme.
