This major expansion of the DEIS programme will see an additional €32million investment per annum nationally.
Tipperary will see 22 primary and 3 post-primary schools receiving DEIS status, a fact that Deputy Cahill is pleased to welcome, having worked with a large number of local schools in pushing for DEIS status to be expanded to them.
Speaking on this today, Deputy Cahill said: “DEIS, the Action Plan for Educational Inclusion, was launched by a Fianna Fáil Minister for Education in May 2005. The plan focuses on addressing the educational needs of children and young people from disadvantaged communities, from pre-school through second-level education (3 to 18 years).
“Today, a Fianna Fáil Minister for Education, Norma Foley, has delivered on the record expansion of the DEIS programme, both nationally and here in Tipperary. 25 Tipperary schools are being accepted into the DEIS programme, including 22 primary schools and 3 post-primary schools.”
Deputy Cahill continued to list the post-primary schools in Tipperary that will be included in the new programme, saying: “The Presentation Secondary School Ballingarry, Scoil Mhuire, Greenhill, Carrick-on-Suir, and Coláiste Phobal Roscrea have all been successful in their inclusion in this newly-expanded DEIS programme for Tipperary and I am sure that this news will come with delight to the management and communities of each school.”
Cahill continued to say: “I am also very pleased to see a good distribution county-wide of the primary schools that Minister Foley has informed me will be included in the new DEIS programme. From the Gaelscoil in Carrick-on-Suir, to Redwood NS in Lower Ormond, to a considerable number of schools in Tipperary Town, it is clear that education in every part of Tipperary will be boosted by today’s announcement.
“From speaking to school principals on this today, I know that this news is being warmly welcomed. I would like to acknowledge the time and consideration that Minister Foley and her staff gave to me in making the case for a number of schools here in Tipperary.”
Deputy Cahill concluded saying: “This is a very good day for education in County Tipperary and I am proud to see Fianna Fáil delivering once again in this area.”