Deis allocation for Youghal schools described as ‘perplexing’ 

THE allocation of Deis school status in Youghal has been described as “perplexing” after three out of four schools in the town were unsuccessful in their applications.

Local Fianna Fáil TD James O’Connor has now called on the general secretary of the Department of Education to visit schools in Youghal to see first-hand the issues that face the community.

He was speaking during a public accounts committee meeting.

“We’ve three primary schools and one post-primary school in the town. After the review, despite all of them being in the same Pobal index, only one of the schools got a Deis allocation on appeal. The others didn’t,” Mr O’Connor said.

“I come from the area and economically it is challenging,” he added, asking why one school was given Deis status “and the other three ignored”.

Three schools in the town, Pobalscoil na Tríonóide, Gaelscoil Choráin, and Bunscoil Mhuire were unsuccessful, while South Abbey National School gained Deis 1 status.

“It’s quite expensive for the department to do it, I acknowledge that, especially when it comes to the reduction of pupil-teacher ratio with Deis status,” Mr O’Connor said.

The Cork TD said that “the need for Deis allocation has increased dramatically” as the town, which has a population of about 8,000, has also welcomed 1,000 migrants, saying, “it’s a family base so there are a lot of children involved yet that data wasn’t included in the analysis”.

Bernie McNally, general secretary of the Department of Education, said she understood the “massive frustration” that the allocation system can have on communities.

“We’re extremely grateful of schools that embraced the community coming in and did so urgently,” she said, adding that they can get a report for Mr O’Connor on supports for the area.

“Whether they have Deis status or not, we have put in an additional 2,000 English language teachers across the country in the last few years.”

Mr O’Connor asked Ms McNally: “Can I ask you would you visit Youghal?

“I know it’s an unprecedented to request to ask any civil servant to visit a school but I think it would be good for department officials to go,” to which she replied, “Yes, absolutely.”