Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 569: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the name on a county basis of each secondary school that qualifies for DEIS status; the percentage of voluntary secondary schools in each county qualifying for DEIS; the percentage of vocational education committee schools in each county qualifying for DEIS; and if he will make a statement on the differences and trends contained within. [10099/09]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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For the information of the Deputy a list of the Post Primary schools that qualified for DEIS is hereby given.

Nationally, the breakdown per sector of schools that qualified for DEIS is as follows:

Secondary — 12.89%

Community and Comprehensive — 28.57%

Vocational — 50.2%

A more detailed breakdown on a county basis is not readily available and will be sent separately to the Deputy.

DEIS provides for a standardised system for identifying levels of disadvantage and an integrated School Support Programme (SSP). It is designed to ensure that schools serving the most disadvantaged communities benefit from the maximum level of support available. As a result of the identification and review processes, 203 second level schools have been included in the SSP under DEIS. The plan is being rolled out on a phased basis from 2006 to 2010.

The process of identifying 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 the Department's regional offices and the Inspectorate.

A review mechanism was put in place in 2006 to address the concerns of schools that did not qualify for inclusion in DEIS but regarded themselves as having a level of disadvantage which was 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. In advance of the DEIS action plan, the findings of research carried out by the Educational Research Centre (ERC) showed strong evidence for the proposition that the disadvantage associated with poverty and social exclusion assumes a multiplier effect when large numbers of pupils in a school are from a similar disadvantaged background. Schools identified for inclusion in DEIS were adjudged by the independent identification process to warrant inclusion based on their level of disadvantage.

The national figures provided in the table above show that 50.2% of VECs, 28.57% of Community & Comprehensive and 12.89% of Secondary Schools are included in the DEIS programme. The next identification process is scheduled to be held at the end of the current DEIS programme which runs until 2010. There will not be an opportunity before this for existing schools to be included in the current DEIS programme of supports.

The Department has commissioned the ERC to conduct an independent evaluation of DEIS over the period of the action plan to 2010. This evaluation will aim to monitor the effectiveness of the programme and assess its impact on students, families, schools, and communities at primary and post-primary levels. The thrust of the evaluation is systemic in the sense that it is designed to inform policy making on the role that initiatives like DEIS can play in improving educational attainment, promoting social inclusion and identifying models of good practice in the application of resources and supports.

The next identification process for disadvantaged schools is due to take place in 2010. A Steering group has already been established and has commenced work in examining the socio-economic and other variables that collectively best predict achievement. Wider consultation with education stakeholders and other partners will form an important part of the identification process.