Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 1611: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of schools nationally, both primary and secondary, that appealed their exclusion from DEIS; and the number of these that were successful. [1867/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The process of identifying primary and second-level schools for participation in DEIS was managed by the Educational Research Centre (ERC) on behalf of my Department and supported by quality assurance work co-ordinated through the Department's regional offices and the Inspectorate.

A review mechanism was put in place to address the concerns of those schools that did not qualify for inclusion in the School Support Programme under DEIS but regarded themselves as having a level of disadvantage which is of a scale sufficient to warrant their inclusion in the programme. The review process operated under the direction of an independent person, charged with ensuring that all relevant identification processes and procedures were properly followed in the case of schools applying for a review.

As a result of the identification process, 840 schools were invited to participate in the SSP. These comprised 640 primary schools (320 urban/town schools and 320 rural schools) and 200 second-level schools. Following on the review process, an additional 40 schools (35 primary and 5 second level) were included in the SSP. The total number of schools that made an application under the review process was 341 and this included 228 primary schools and 113 second level schools.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 1612: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the DEIS effectively penalises schools that have succeeded, due to effective use of funding, to improve their retention rates and results of their students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1868/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools), the action plan for educational inclusion, provides for a standardised system for identifying levels of disadvantage and a new integrated School Support Programme. DEIS will bring together, and build upon, a number of existing interventions in schools with a concentrated level of disadvantage.

The process of identifying primary and second level schools for participation in DEIS was managed by the Educational Research Centre (ERC) on behalf of my Department and was supported by quality assurance work co-ordinated through my Department's regional offices and the Inspectorate. The ERC's overall approach was guided by the definition of educational disadvantage in the Education Act (1998), section 32(9), as: " — the impediments to education arising from social or economic disadvantage which prevent students from deriving appropriate benefit from education in schools".

In the case of second level schools, the Department supplied the ERC with centrally-held data from the Post-Primary Pupils and State Examinations Commission databases and from data holdings for the Free Books Scheme. While retention rates were one of the variables used to determine eligibility for inclusion in DEIS, they were not the only measure to be taken into account. The other determinants for eligibility were:- Medical card data for Junior Certificate candidates (including Junior Certificate School Programme candidates); Junior Certificate exam results aggregated to school level (expressed as an Overall Performance Scale score, which was based on each students performance in the seven subjects in which s/he performed best).

Overall, for a school to be eligible for extra resources under DEIS, it was considered that there ought to be evidence that a school was experiencing educational problems (e.g. below average on retention rates and/or Junior Certificate performance) and had above average percentage enrolment of students from poor backgrounds.

Enhancing attendance, progression, retention and attainment are central to the DEIS action plan and have been given high priority at both national and EU level. The EU have set a target of not more than 10% early school leavers by 2010 and the new National Development Plan has set a high-level goal for improving attainment at second level.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 1613: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of schools nationally, on a county basis, both primary and secondary, not included in DEIS. [1869/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The document below sets out the number of primary and second-level schools, on a county basis, that are not included in the School Support Programme under the DEIS action plan. DEIS is a school support programme designed to focus resources on the most disadvantaged schools in an area.