Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 December 2015
477. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) in County Wexford will be considered under the delivering equality of opportunity in schools scheme; if she will include new schools under this scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43574/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school referred to by the Deputy was surveyed in 2005 and was judged not to have a sufficient concentration of disadvantage among its pupils to warrant its inclusion in DEIS. An appeal by the school to the independent review body in 2006 confirmed that the level of disadvantage did not warrant the school's inclusion. I wish to advise the Deputy that a process for the review of the DEIS Programme is currently underway in my Department. The review process is being undertaken over the course of the current school year. While this process is underway it is not intended to make any changes to the current programme, including the addition of any further schools. The review process 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.
