'Disgrace' - Dundalk schools receive DEIS funding as Drogheda omitted

Drogheda councillors have expressed their frustration at the Department of Education's decision to exclude schools in the town from DEIS Plus funding. 

The funding provides targeted supports for 121 schools across the country with the highest concentrations of children and young people at risk of educational disadvantage. 

Seven Louth schools were included in the DEIS Plus scheme, all of which are located in Dundalk.

Mayor of Drogheda, Labour councillor Michelle Hall said the omission was "shocking" and said the Department had "ignored" data from Pobal's deprivation index, which showed over 10,000 people in the town experience disadvantage. 

"I have to say that breaks my heart as mayor and a teacher. Taking children out of poverty begins with a safe, stable home developing the brain from the womb to six years of age."

"We’re not going to give the teachers the funds that they need to give the students the best start to their life," she said. 

Fine Gael councillor Anne Marie Ford said the issue was something that brought her "unwillingly" into politics and called on the Government to take an evidence-based approach. 

She said children need the "best opportunities to blossom" and funding should be prioritised "for our children's futures". 

"If we’re not investing in our children’s futures, we’re not investing in anybody. 

We’re all left vulnerable, because if we have children who aren’t getting the support they need that’s a problem for everybody," she said. 

Independent councillor Paddy McQuillan labelled the omission a "disgrace" and accused the Government of ignoring Drogheda "yet again". 

Read Next: Dundalk property owners now eligible for tax relief through Living City initiative

The debate took place after Mayor Hall tabled an emergency no-confidence motion in the Government, however, it was subject to a counter-motion by Fianna Fáil councillor James Byrne.

Cllr Byrne also expressed his frustration at Drogheda's exclusion and said he was "as disappointed as anyone". 

He questioned if DEIS funding allocated under the Drogheda Implementation plan "had a knock on effect" and said the "funding balance across the county was not great in my opinion". 

Cllr Byrne's counter motion was selected to be debated but was ultimately rejected following a roll-call vote. 

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.