Cuireann an scéim DEIS tacaíocht bhreise ar fáil do scoileanna atá suite i gceantair atá faoi mhíbhuntáiste i bPoblacht na hÉireann, ach ní gach scoil atá faoi bhláth dá bharr.
Léirigh príomhoide Phobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair, agus príomhoidí Scoileanna Náisiúnta Ghort a’ Choirce, Rann na Feirste agus Mhín Tine Dé, a míshástacht le gairid mar nach léir dóibh cad chuige nár éirigh leo aitheantas a fháil faoin scéim.
Léiríonn eolas úr ó Dhaonáireamh 2016 go bhfuil Dún na nGall ar cheann de na contaetha is mó atá faoi mhíbhuntáiste sa tír.
Tá ceantracha áirithe sa chontae ina bhfuil an pobal go mór faoi mhíbhuntáiste, ar nós na gceantracha Gaeltachta i nGaoth Dobhair, sna Rosann, Cloich Cheann Fhaola agus sa Ghaeltacht Lár.
Bhí leibhéal dífhostaíochta 20.2% i measc na bhfear i gCo Dhún na nGall, agus 15.9% i measc na mban de réir staitisticí an Daonáirimh.
Táthar ag súil go mbainfidh an Roinn Oideachais úsáid as na stataisticí seo le scoilteanna a rangú faoi scéim DEIS, ach tá na príomhoidí, múinteoirí, daltaí scoile agus a dtuismitheoirí go fóill ag fanacht ar fhreagraí ón Roinn Oideachais.
Ag labhairt le Meon Eile dúirt urlabhraí thar an Roinn Oideachais:
“All schools in the country were assessed and following this assessment a decision was taken to extend DEIS supports only to those schools with the highest level of need. 79 additional schools were brought in to DEIS following this assessment detailed above. The three schools referred to were not identified as having the highest level of disadvantage among their student cohort as those selected for inclusion in the programme
“It is worth noting that in total, there are 107 Primary and 13 Post Primary Schools in Co Donegal in receipt of DEIS funding, which accounts for 15.5% of schools in DEIS nationally. In terms of overall schools in Co Donegal, 72% of Primary and 48% of Post Primary schools in the county are in receipt of DEIS funding.
“The next assessment is scheduled to take place in Q1 2018 and pending the outcome of that process, it is not proposed to make any further changes to the number of schools participating in DEIS.”