Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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105. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when he will review the status of the eligibility of schools which are not covered under the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17945/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that the review of the DEIS programme is currently underway and it is my intention that a New Action Plan for disadvantaged schools will be published by the end of this year. I also wish to advise the Deputy that changes to the current programme will not be made pending the outcome of the review.

The review is looking at all aspects of DEIS, including the identification process for the inclusion of schools in the programme, the range and impact of different elements of the School Support Programme, and the scope for increased integration of services provided by other Departments and agencies, in order to improve effectiveness.

The programme for a Partnership Government has committed to publish a new updated Action Plan for Educational Inclusion within 12 months. Subject to Government approval, it is intended to start to implement actions arising from an updated plan in the 2017/18 school year.

The number of additional schools to be included in the programme will be determined by a new identification process for this purpose, which is currently in development.

In the meantime, I do not propose to make any changes to the current programme, including the addition of further schools until the completion of the Review and agreement on a new Action Plan.