Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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66. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when decisions will be made on an updated DEIS school supports programme following a review of schools' entitlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14416/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that the update of the identification model is continuing.  This will take account of updated school data as provided by schools for the current school year combined with the Pobal HP Index of Deprivation, based on CSO Small Area Population statistics derived from the 2016 National Census. It is envisaged that this process including a quality assurance exercise will be completed in the coming weeks.  Once this data is available to my Department, it will be used to inform policy decisions in terms of future provision in the DEIS programme, including decisions with regard to the future designation of schools identified as requiring supports.