John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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106. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a school (details supplied) is not in full DEIS status; the way this school would go about applyig for full DEIS status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18970/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The school the Deputy refers to applied for the DEIS Programme in 2005 but was assessed not to have a sufficient level of disadvantage for inclusion in the scheme at the time. As the Deputy is aware, the review of the DEIS programme is currently underway and it is my intention that a New Action Plan Educational Inclusion will be published by the end of this year.

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 number of additional schools to be included in the new programme will be determined by a new identification process for this purpose, which is currently in development and in which all schools will be assessed. Subject to Government approval, it is intended to begin to implement actions arising from an updated plan in the 2017/18 school year.

In the meantime, I do not propose to make any changes to the current programme, including the addition of further schools.