Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 199: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the DEIS schools review. [13957/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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While a key priority for me is to continue to prioritise and target resources at schools with the most concentrated levels of educational disadvantage, the current economic climate and the challenge to meet significant targets on reducing public expenditure limits opportunities and means that there is not capacity to provide for additionality to the DEIS programme, including the selection of further schools. An ongoing evaluation of DEIS has been underway since the rollout of supports commenced in 2006 by the Educational Research Centre (ERC), the aim of which is to monitor the implementation of the programme and assess its impact on students and schools at primary and post primary levels.

In addition, the Inspectorate of my Department conducted evaluations of planning in a sample of 36 DEIS schools, 18 primary and 18 post-primary. A national composite report on the effectiveness of DEIS planning in primary and post-primary schools has been completed and this report along with the ERC report have been published. My Department will consider fully these evaluation reports before any decisions can be made regarding the future of DEIS.