Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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181. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position in relation to the delivering equality of opportunity in schools review of secondary and primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32514/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the process for the review of the DEIS Programme is underway. This process involves a number of strands including:

- a consultation process with the Education Partners to inform the development of appropriate future interventions to tackle educational disadvantage;

- the establishment of an inter-Departmental Group to ensure a joined-up approach to future delivery of services in the DEIS Programme;

- the establishment of a Technical Group which is working to establish what eligibility criteria are now appropriate to re-identify the level of need in schools;

- the establishment of a DEIS Advisory Group within my Department.

The review process is being undertaken over the course of the current school year and will consider all issues pertaining to educational disadvantage in all areas. I hope to be in a position to make an overall proposal for the delivery of future interventions to tackle educational disadvantage after that.