St Mary’s NS, Tallaght should be included in the DEIS scheme – Deputy Seán Crowe

During a Parliamentary questions debate with Labour Education Minister Ruairí Quinn, Dublin South West Sinn Féin TD Seán Crowe asked why schools that are servicing areas of social disadvantage are unable to be considered for inclusion in the DEIS scheme.

Deputy Crowe, who is his party’s Education Spokesperson, referred to St Mary’s NS in Tallaght as an example of a school that because of the changing demographics of its catchment area badly needs additional teaching resources.

Mr Crowe said: “The rationale behind the DEIS initiative is to ensure we have an inclusive education system that is able to meet the needs of children from all social and economic backgrounds. It needs to be a flexible enough system that is able to adapt to the challenges of a changing, multi-facet society.

“In today’s exceptional economic downturn, increasing numbers of families face many difficulties including rising unemployment, relationship breakdowns, wage cuts, increased taxation and problems with alcohol and substance abuse. These are all factors that directly effects a child’s life chances. In addition to this, we have Traveller children who need specialised support within the classroom and an increasing number of migrant families attending Irish schools where English is not their first language.

“St Mary’s NS in Tallaght is a school that is in the frontline in servicing a community that has changed greatly over recent years and where the impact of the recession has resulted in higher levels of disadvantage. Despite this, the school risks losing teachers because it does not have DEIS Band status and the current slew of cutbacks means these types of schools will no longer be considered for inclusion in the DEIS scheme.

“It is an issue I raised with Minister Quinn during a Dáil debate and he conceded that it was something his Department would have to look at.

“This week’s decision to retain 235 teaching posts in DEIS Band One and DEIS Band Two Schools whilst welcome, shows how unfair and unjustified this cut was when announced in December. The Minister’s U-turn on this matter highlights how important such schools are in ensuring children from low income families have access to a high standard of education. It is simply not good enough that schools such as St Mary’s cannot access the type of additional support that is available through the DEIS system and which can make all the difference to the life chances of a child.”