Séamus Healy (Tipperary, Workers and Unemployed Action Group)
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152. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an application for DEIS status for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33670/16]

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

As the Deputy may be aware, no new school has been included in DEIS since 2009. A new assessment framework is currently being developed using centrally held CSO and DES data for the identification of new schools for inclusion. 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 the school to which the Deputy refers and other schools not currently participating in DEIS. It will not be necessary for schools to make an application.

Among the measures to be included in the plan are a series of pilot schemes aimed at introducing measures which have been shown to work well in improving results for disadvantaged children and students. The plan is expected to include targeted measures in the area of:

- School leadership

- School networks and clusters

- Teaching methodologies

- Integration of schools and other State supports within communities

- Greater use of Home School Community Liaison services.

Implementation of actions arising from the Plan for Educational Inclusion will begin in the 2017/18 school year, and will be a continuing theme in our wider Annual Action Plan for Education.

Further details on the Review process can be found at: .