Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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20. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will commit to removing the cap on the expansion of the delivering equality of opportunity in schools programme; if she will put in place the measures suggested by the Economic and Social Research Institute review of the programme to enhance funding and supports for urban schools in the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15504/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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As I replied in Priority PQ 15671/15, the ESRI publication "Learning from the Evaluation of DEIS" provides an opportunity to commence an assessment of the DEIS programme.

The Report assesses the main findings of research conducted by the Educational Research Centre and the Inspectorate of my Department and provides advice to inform future policy direction in relation to educational disadvantage.

I have commenced a consultation process with all the education partners to inform the development of appropriate measures to continue to support those at risk of poor educational outcomes. An interdepartmental Working Group is being established to ensure a joined-up approach to delivery of services in DEIS as well as a Technical Group to develop a revised identification process for schools. This work will take place over the course of the next school year.

To expand eligibility for DEIS based on 10-year old criteria would not be fair to schools currently outside DEIS. My focus is therefore on developing a revised identification process as referenced above.