Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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243. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when it is anticipated that the review of the DEIS programme will be formally completed; if further details are available regarding the process by which additional schools may be considered for inclusion to the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26603/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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A process to review DEIS - the Action Plan for Educational Inclusion which began last year is nearing completion and I have already announced my intention to publish a new Action Plan before the end of this year.

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

Also under consideration is the development of a new assessment framework using centrally held CSO and DES data for the identification of schools for inclusion in a new programme to tackle educational disadvantage. The number of schools to be included in the programme will be determined by this proposed new identification process which will assess all schools in the country, including those not currently participating in DEIS. 

It is envisaged that actions arising from a new Action Plan for Educational Inclusion plan will be implemented in the 2017 /2018 school year.