Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I have recently begun a process to renew the DEIS programme. This process involves a number of strands which will operate concurrently over the coming school year. These strands include, first, the current consultation with education partners on appropriate interventions to tackle educational disadvantage; second, the establishment of an interdepartmental group to ensure a joined-up approach to future delivery of services in the DEIS programme; third, the establishment of a technical group to develop criteria for a new identification process for which schools should participate in the DEIS programme; and, fourth, the establishment of a DEIS advisory group within my Department. Terms of reference for these three groups are currently being finalised.

All aspects of the DEIS programme will be considered as part of this work, including development of criteria to identify schools for inclusion in the programme and appropriate interventions that build on the positive outcomes being observed in DEIS.

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