John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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15. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps being taken to establish a new DEIS plus scheme, as per the programme for Government commitment. [8506/25]

John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The commitment in the programme for Government to establish a new DEIS plus scheme for schools is very welcome. What steps will be taken within the Department to develop that scheme? The existing scheme has been reflected on very positively by both schools and teachers who participate in what are currently considered DEIS schools and it has had independent verification of its success by reports from inspectors, among others. Some of the initiatives in the initial scheme have been extended to all schools, such as the free books and the free hot school meals programmes. What is envisaged in the new scheme?

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for his question. assure him tackling educational disadvantage and supporting children to fulfil their potential is a key priority for me as Minister for Education and youth. As the Deputy will know, the DEIS programme is a really positive key policy of Government to tackle concentrated educational disadvantage at school level. There has been a massive investment in recent years. A total of €180 million has been invested annually and is continuing to increase on a year-on-year basis to provide those additional supports to almost 1,200 schools in the DEIS programme.

Within the programme, 306 primary schools with the highest concentrations of children at risk of educational disadvantage are included in DEIS urban band 1. These schools receive the highest level of support available. This includes a more favourable staffing allocation, DEIS grant funding and access to the home school community liaison scheme and the school completion programme.

The recent OECD Review of Resourcing Schools to Address Educational Disadvantage in Ireland has highlighted the role of the DEIS programme and, as the Deputy mentioned, what comes across very clearly is that we have a strong performance globally when it comes to supporting our young people, in particular those from disadvantaged backgrounds. I am determined to close the performance gap between DEIS and non-DEIS schools and introduce more innovative solutions. The DEIS plus scheme is part of the work that needs to be done. What is very clear is that even within DEIS schools, there is a requirement and a need for even more intensified support. This has been clearly highlighted by several schools across the country. I am absolutely committed to the roll-out of DEIS plus, which is currently being worked through. It will not be for schools to apply. We will be able to look at certain criteria to identify where particular additional support is needed.

On top of that, since coming into the Department, I have asked my team to examine the DEIS programme as it stands; the roll-out of the DEIS plus scheme; the important review done by the OECD and the recommendations it published before Christmas; where really positive work is happening within our structures and within the Tusla education support service, TESS, and how we can bring that all together; and put in a place an ambitious, targeted and long-term plan to support those who are in education disadvantage.

John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister's comments on closing the gap between DEIS and non-DEIS schools are interesting because in a number of our schools, the teaching personnel observe a level of disadvantage among pupils that is probably not recognised under the scheme. This is even in terms of how the existing scheme is calculated, for lack of a better term, or how schools are assessed for their inclusion. One aspect schools are finding increasingly puzzling is where there is a high proportion of pupils who may be residing in international protection accommodation services, yet the school is not considered to be of sufficient disadvantage to obtain DEIS status. This is one measure we could look at. We need to review whether we are fully incorporating and analysing the number of pupils living in direct provision and attending schools, and whether that is fully recognised in the existing DEIS scheme.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I want to ensure every young person gets the support they need, particularly those who need additional support, be it through the DEIS programme, DEIS plus or any other way because we know it works. The gap in retention rates between DEIS and non-DEIS schools have halved from 16.8% to 8.4% since the programme began. We know that focus and targeted intervention works. It is about how we make sure more children benefit from it, how those children who are not in DEIS schools get that support and if further expansion of the programme is needed, that can happen. According to international studies, children at risk of educational disadvantage in Ireland have higher and better outcomes because of that targeted focus.

I also see a huge role for our youth organisations and they will come under the Department's remit. It is important the very real and tangible actions taken by our youth organisations are realised as part of this overall plan to tackle disadvantage and support those children who need it most.

John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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One of the advantages DEIS schools enjoy over non-DEIS schools is the position of the home school community liaison teacher. This is a valuable position that would be valued in any school. The Minister might look at closing the gap between DEIS and non-DEIS schools and providing additional roles. We could arrive at a position whereby a home school liaison officer might work with several non-DEIS schools but it is certainly one of the significant advantages.

As I said in my opening remarks, some of the additional benefits of DEIS, such as the free school books and hot school meals schemes, have been extended to all schools, which is very welcome. We can take learnings from DEIS and what has worked well to see if we can extend our resources to apply them to non-DEIS settings.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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There are a number of important strands here in making sure we get the best outcomes for young people with the home school liaison officers and ensuring we have counselling in primary schools. There is an important pilot scheme that has been extended to 61 urban DEIS primary schools in Tallaght, Clondalkin, Ballymun, Finglas and Darndale. I want to see that further expanded.

There have been 15 community link workers appointed to support Traveller and Roma communities, particularly for children at risk of educational disadvantage. There has been really positive work, with programmes and pilot schemes established and being rolled out. They all have the same objective. How do we provide wraparound support to children, families and communities to ensure they get the education they are entitled to and can benefit from? Keeping a young person in school for as long as possible means the vast majority of young people will have a better outcome and outlook in life. That is my objective and my priority. I look forward to working with the Deputy and all our stakeholders to ensure we can achieve that.