Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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228. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for the further expansion of the DEIS programme in 2018; his further plans to reopen the programme for those schools which did not receive DEIS designation in 2017 but fulfil the criteria as identified in the recently published deprivation report and that require additional resources and supports in their respective schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49293/17]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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229. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools added to the DEIS designations list 2017 following the verification process engaged in by the respective schools; his views on the verification process (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49294/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 228 and 229 together.

We have, for the first time, introduced an objective, statistics based model for deciding which schools merit inclusion in the DEIS Programme, so that all stakeholders can have confidence that we are targeting extra resources at those schools with the highest concentrated levels of disadvantage.

The key data sources used in the DEIS identification process are the DES Primary Online Database (POD) and Post-Primary Online (PPOD) Databases, and CSO data from the National Census of Population as represented in the Pobal HP Index for Small Areas which is a method of measuring the relative affluence or disadvantage of a particular geographical area. Variables used in the compilation of the HP Index include those related to demographic growth, dependency ratios, education levels, single parent rate, overcrowding, social class, occupation and unemployment rates. This data is combined with pupil data, anonymised and aggregated to small area, to provide information on the relative level of concentrated disadvantage present in the pupil cohort of individual schools.

A detailed document explaining the methodology used in the Identification process is available on the Department’s website at

Schools were not required to apply for assessment in DEIS as every school was automatically assessed as part of the DEIS Identification process. Therefore no 'appeals' process was required. However, under DEIS Plan 2017, a process to verify the data used was provided for and some schools availed of this verification process. As with the new DEIS Identification process the verification process was also a scientific exercise which involved checking the school data, as used in the Identification process, in terms of the quality and accuracy of the data supplied and the match rate to CSO small area. With regard to the number of schools added as a result of this process I can confirm that one extra school has been included in DEIS. Schools that availed of this process have been notified of the outcome.

Schools included in DEIS with effect from September 2017 are those whose level of disadvantage has been identified as those schools serving the highest concentrations of disadvantage among their pupil cohort. Schools which have not been included at this stage are those which have not been identified as having the highest levels of concentrated disadvantage amongst their pupil cohort, under the new identification model.

It is important to note that this is the first step in a process and the fact that a school has not been included now does not preclude its inclusion at a later date, should the assessment indicate a level of disadvantage that warrants additional supports. I am fully aware that there are further schools whose concentrated level of disadvantage may not be at the highest level, but may nevertheless be at a level which warrants additional supports for pupils under DEIS.

A further process will take account of updated data as it becomes available. Schools are being advised to ensure that their POD/PPOD data is fully correct and up to date, including Eircode which can now be recorded by schools on both POD and PPOD databases. The HP Index, based on the 2016 National Census data has been published recently.

The plan is for a further assessment of all schools, using these updated datasets. Should this exercise reveal that any school, which did not qualify for DEIS in 2017, meets the criteria applicable to schools with the highest concentration of disadvantage based on the updated information then additional schools may be included subject to available resources.