Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 February 2013
240. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a school (details supplied) in County Donegal is not currently designated for DEIS; if the school has applied in recent times for DEIS in order to be designated for DEIS status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9690/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing an independent identification process in 2005, 875 schools were selected for inclusion in DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools).
The school to which the Deputy refers was among a number of schools that was judged not to have a sufficient level of disadvantage to warrant inclusion in DEIS. Furthermore, an appeal by this school to the independent review body confirmed that the level of disadvantage did not warrant the school's inclusion in the DEIS process.
My Department has not received an application for inclusion in DEIS since the appeal was made in 2006.
A key priority for my Department is to continue to prioritise and target resources in schools with the most concentrated levels of educational disadvantage. That challenge is significant given the current economic climate and the target to reduce public expenditure. This limits the capacity for any additionality, or inclusion of further schools, in the DEIS programme.
