Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I really believe there is unanimity in the Chamber on the value and importance of DEIS and on the difference that DEIS makes to the life of the student. The DEIS programme has provided a range of supports, such as reduced class sizes, additional resources, school completion and home-school-community liaison officers. Very importantly there are two things. There are schools in DEIS whose principals firmly believe that they would benefit from even more DEIS resources, even though they might have the highest band of DEIS. There are also schools not in DEIS at all. We need to be very clear that there are children and young people at risk of education disadvantage and they do not attend DEIS schools; they are in other mainstream schools. We are trying to do a root-and-branch review. We have the OECD review and the work that is ongoing within my Department to ensure that to the maximum of our ability we will be able to raise all boats for all children, namely those who require additional supports within DEIS and those who are not in DEIS but who also require support. We hope to have that shortly.

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