Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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68. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the staffing formula for designated DEIS schools has not been improved to coincide with two improvements in the overall formula for other primary schools in recent years; his plans to improve the formula for DEIS schools for the coming school year in view of research evidence showing the importance of smaller class size, especially for younger children and those affected by socio-economic disadvantage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29298/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Tackling educational disadvantage is a key priority for my Department.  In order to achieve its vision for education to become a proven pathway to better opportunities for those in communities at risk of disadvantage and social exclusion, my Department has set the implementation of a renewed DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) programme as one of its key priorities.  

Evaluations of DEIS to date have shown an overall improvement in educational outcomes in DEIS schools. DEIS Plan 2017 aims to build on what has already been achieved by schools who have benefitted from the additional supports available under the initial DEIS programme introduced in 2005.  Extra supports have been extended to 109 schools which will benefit over 20,000 students.

While the allocation of additional teaching resources to DEIS Band 1 schools has served to improve learning outcomes, a gap still remained between DEIS and non-DEIS schools in terms of educational outcomes.  Under DEIS Plan 2017, there is a commitment to carry out an evaluation of the level of teaching resources for schools participating in the School Support Programme.  My Department established a Working Group to examine Class Size in late 2017.

To date there have been two meetings of this group and work is underway on examining the various issues that arise in terms of determining optimum class size.  It is intended that a short report will be prepared by the Working group which will be referred to the Advisory Group for consideration.

My Department’s Circulars govern staffing arrangements in all schools and are available on my Department’s website.