Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I raise again the issue of DEIS plus. The proposal for DEIS plus comes from a number of school principals in Ballymun, Tallaght and Dublin 17 which is in my constituency. They suggest that we need extra trauma-based supports for the most acutely disadvantaged schools in the country. Approximately 100 such schools have been identified nationwide. I know the Government often says to me that not every disadvantaged child goes to a DEIS school, and that is fine and correct. However, these are the most profoundly disadvantaged children in the most profoundly disadvantaged schools. The Minister for Education has said there is an OECD review into the DEIS scheme and she is waiting for that. I would like some commitment from the Tánaiste, as somebody with a background in education, as he has already alluded to. Can we again front-load supports for these most disadvantaged children? They were already disadvantaged before Covid and Covid has had a profound damaging and negative effect on them and their communities. If we could prioritise this as an educational priority, it would mean a great deal to these children and the schools in question.

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