Dr. Siobhán O'Reilly:

In respect of our involvement, we have attended the advisory group to design DEIS plus and contributed to the thinking that is happening on that. Departmental officials attended our end child poverty week education day, which we held in St. Ultan's school in Cherry Orchard, which is a fantastic example of how DEIS plus could look. Notwithstanding that, the school probably needs more resourcing. One is talking about a wraparound approach to care and education where the child is at the centre and the needs of the child and the family in terms of educational outcomes, and what can address those in the best way possible, are looked at.

On the DEIS identification model, the OECD report identified that further work was required. There were some changes from 2017 to 2022 in terms of how schools were identified for DEIS. We would also say that there are some children attending schools without DEIS status who require DEIS-type supports. Therefore, we need to examine how we allocate the resource. The OECD report flags that. The Department seems to be using the report to underpin its policy going forward, so there are some positive things there.

On the transfer to further and higher education and speaking as an education person, I would say that people in this country are obsessed with the attainment of third level education. We really need to focus on identifying the positive routes for each young person and his or her choices and ensuring that our education system supports that. I think senior cycle redevelopment is a really good opportunity to do that. They are looking at pathways, broadening skills within senior cycle and giving an all-round experience, not just one targeted towards the leaving certificate.