Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1186: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the programme for Government to compete the roll-out of the DEIS action plan to ensure a comprehensive package of targeted supports for school children in the most disadvantaged areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29444/09]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools), the action plan for educational inclusion, provides for a standardised system for identifying levels of disadvantage and an integrated School Support Programme (SSP). As a result of the identification and review processes, 876 schools have been included in the School Support Programme (SSP) under DEIS. These comprise 673 primary schools (urban and rural) and 203 second-level schools. The plan, which is being rolled out on a phased basis over the period 2005 to 2010 involves an additional annual investment of some €40m on full implementation. It has also involved the creation of about 300 additional posts across the education system generally.

Since DEIS was launched in 2005, considerable progress has been made in relation to the roll out of supports to participating schools. All DEIS schools are supported by the provision of additional financial supports. In respect of the 2008/09 school year, grants amounting to approximately €10.5 million issued to the 673 DEIS Primary schools while almost €3.4 million was paid in the course of the year in respect of the 203 DEIS Post Primary schools.

In addition to this approximately €1million was paid to 74 Post Primary Schools receiving grants under pre-existing schemes while some 1,900 primary schools received almost €3.3 million of grant assistance to assist them with their respective levels of dispersed disadvantage.

2006 saw the implementation of targeted class size reductions of 20:1 in junior classes and 24:1 in senior classes in urban/town primary schools serving the most disadvantaged communities.

In line with DEIS priorities there has been a significant development of literacy and numeracy programmes, including Reading Recovery and Ready set go, maths for schools in the urban primary strand of DEIS. Support has been extended to 19 family literacy project.

Access to the Junior Certificate School Programme (JCSP) has been extended with 23 DEIS schools joining the programme in 2008/2009. The JCSP is now available in 163 DEIS schools. 138 DEIS schools are currently providing the Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) programme, 5 of these schools joined in 2008/2009.

There are currently 25 DEIS schools in the Demonstration Library Project of the targeted top 50 DEIS schools, including 10 schools that joined the project in 2008/2009.

During 2006 Home School Community liaison and School Completion Programme services were extended to those urban/town primary schools and second-level schools not already benefiting from them. Access to teacher/co-ordinator support for any of the rural primary schools, not already in receipt of such support under a previous measure has also been implemented.

An additional 80 posts were provided under DEIS for the expansion of HSCL and in the region of €30 million has been allocated to HSCL for 2009. 184,000 pupils attending 651 schools (281 post primary & 370 primary) have access to Home School Community Liaison, with approx. 50,000 of these pupil's families being specifically targeted for the services of 450 local Home School Community Liaison Coordinators.

Some €31 million has been allocated to the School Completion Programme in the current school year. 124 projects, targeting over 36,000 young people, are now participating in the School Completion Programme and spanning 26 counties. The 124 projects includes 81 projects originally selected to participate in SCP in 2002 and 43 new SCP clusters created in 2006/07 including the new DEIS schools.

Templates for three year action plans to support school planning were introduced into schools in the primary strand of DEIS during autumn 2007. Planning templates have been introduced in DEIS post primary schools in the current school year.

My Department has commenced a comprehensive evaluation of measures under DEIS that will continue over the period to 2010.