Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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162. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the payment for after-school studies in DEIS schools in south County Kildare has to be paid in full, at approximately €180 per term per child, causing further financial stress on families, where no option for payment in instalments is available despite requests for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40807/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Under the provisions of the Education Act, 1998 the Board of Management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school on behalf of the Patron.

My Department provides a number of policies and programmes which are supportive of homework clubs for students at risk of educational disadvantage.

DEIS is the main policy initiative of the Department of Education to tackle educational disadvantage at school level. Schools in the DEIS Programme are required to develop and implement three-year improvement plans as a condition of their participation in DEIS. Targets are set under key themes, such as attendance, retention, progression, literacy and numeracy, partnership, transition, wellbeing and examination attainment (post-primary).

The Department spends €180m annually in supporting schools in the DEIS programme, of which, over €20m is allocated to schools by way of a DEIS grant.

The DEIS grant should be utilised to attain the targets set in the school's three year improvement plan across the DEIS themes. It is a matter for the Board of Management of each school to allocate DEIS grant funding so that it targets those students deemed most in need. This may include allocating a proportion of the DEIS grant funding towards the cost of setting up and running Homework Clubs.

It is a matter for the school authorities to decide on what additional charges, if any are applicable for these activities.

My Department also encourages schools to facilitate the opening of after-school facilities, wherever possible, for activities such as homework clubs. Decisions on the use of school facilities lies with the relevant school authority in consultation with the property owner.