I wish to advise the Minister that proposals for school amalgamations are a matter for the Patron/Trustees of the schools in question and are subject to approval by the Minister for Education and Skills. Schools proposing to amalgamate are invited to meet with relevant sections of my Department to inform their decision-making process. In accordance with the approach adopted for amalgamations involving DEIS and non-DEIS schools, additional non-teaching resources are provided in respect of eligible pupils from the former DEIS school by way of continued support for the targeted cohort of pupils as a transitional measure.
In the case of a post primary school, these supports continue to be provided for 6 years following the amalgamation. In the case of the school in question, the DEIS supports provided are scheduled to continue until the end of the 2016/17 school year. As the Minister will be aware, a review of the DEIS Programme which will inform future policy in relation to educational disadvantage is currently being undertaken by my Department.
While this process is underway, I do not intend to make any changes to the current programme.
