A group of primary school principals in Drogheda, have expressed what they describe as “concern and utter devastation” following the recent DEIS Plus announcement, which did not include any schools from the town.
In a joint letter, the principals said they welcome the introduction of DEIS Plus as a model, recognising that it brings additional supports for the most vulnerable pupils. However, they say they are deeply disappointed that no primary school in Drogheda has been selected for enhanced status.
Six primary schools in County Louth are to receive DEIS Plus supports, but the principals say it is “appalling” that none are based in Drogheda, despite official Pobal 2022 deprivation data and what was described as a data driven and evidence based selection process.
They argue that the decision contradicts both the HP Deprivation Index and the daily reality of disadvantage experienced in local communities.
According to the letter, the announcement effectively represents a demotion for existing DEIS schools in Drogheda, which they say will impact their ability to address disadvantage in their schools and across the town.
The principals also pointed to the Geiran Scoping Report from 2021, commissioned under then Minister for Justice Helen McEntee, which recommended the highest level of DEIS support for Drogheda schools to address significant levels of disadvantage. They say there has been little meaningful progress on that recommendation.
They believe the recent decision runs counter to the report and undermines its intent.
The group is now calling for an urgent review and correction of the decision.
The letter is signed by:
- Aine Carthy, Principal of St. Paul’s NS
- Catherine Tiernan-Bell Principal of St. Oliver’s NS
- David O’Callaghan, Principal of St. Brigid’s & St. Patrick’s NS
- Jane Kirwan, Principal of Marymount NS
- Nóra Molloy, Principal of Presentation Primary School
- Sarah Bradley, Principal of St. Joseph’s CBS
- Tanya O’Reilly, Principal of St. John’s NS
Copy of Letter
STATEMENT ON DEIS +
We write as a group of local primary school Principals to express our concern and utter devastation regarding the recent DEIS+ announcement.
As a model, we welcome the commencement of DEIS+, which brings about further, necessary support to support the most vulnerable of pupils.
However, upon learning that six primary schools in County Louth are to receive enhanced DEIS+ status, we are appalled that despite the official Pobal (2022) HP Deprivation data, and despite a reported data-driven, evidence-based selection process, that no primary school in Drogheda received an uplift.
This directly contradicts the HP Deprivation Index, as well as the daily examples of the impact of disadvantage and deprivation in our town.
This announcement in itself represents a de facto demotion to all existing DEIS schools in Drogheda.
We have essentially now been relegated, which is detrimental to our ability to address disadvantages in our schools and in the town.
Despite the Geiran Scoping report in 2021 which was commissioned under the then Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, which recommended the highest level of DEIS support being for Drogheda schools to mitigate the impact of profound disadvantage
In our communities, there has been little to no meaningful progress on this clear action from the report.
In fact, the decision announced by the Minister last Tuesday runs counter to the report and goes as far as to undermine its spirit and recommendations.
We call for the urgent review and correction of this decision.
Aine Carthy, Principal of St. Paul’s NS
Catherine Tiernan-Bell, Principal of St. Oliver’s NS
David O’Callaghan, Principal of St. Brigid’s & St. Patrick’s NS
Jane Kirwan, Principal of Marymount NS
Nóra Molloy, Principal of Presentation Primary School
Sarah Bradley, Principal of St. Joseph’s CBS
Tanya O’Reilly, Principal of St. John’s NS
