Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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70. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the recently published report by a person (details supplied), which details a significant decline in arts involvement between 13 and 17 years and that DEIS schools are least likely to offer music or art classes at leaving certificate level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40153/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is aware of the publication referred to by the Deputy and that it draws on data collected as part of Growing Up in Ireland, the national longitudinal study of children and young people in Ireland, which is funded by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

The study adopts a broad definition of cultural participation, including: reading for pleasure; singing/playing a musical instrument; taking music/drama/dance lessons; going to the cinema; and involvement in digital culture (for example, playing computer games) and notes that school remains an important domain for access to, and experience of, arts and culture.

At post primary level, students have access to a range of subjects which come under the broad definition of culture used in the study. These include English, Classical Studies, Art and Music, as well as a range of foreign languages. However, the deployment of teaching staff and the range of subjects offered are a matter for the Board of Management of the school.

Teacher allocations to all second-level schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. In accordance with these rules each school is required to organise its subject options within the limit of its approved teacher allocation.

My Department is engaged in measures to promote cultural activity among young people through the Creative Ireland Programme. The Programme is an all of Government initiative led by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (DTCAGSM). My Department is a key partner in the delivery of Creative Youth, the plan for children and young people under Creative Ireland.

The delivery of this plan includes two key measures: the Creative Schools initiative, led by the Arts Council with support from my Department and DTCAGSM, and Creative Clusters which is led by my Department in association with Education Support Centres Ireland.

As part of these initiatives, primary and post primary schools develop plans to enhance cultural activities for students in their schools. Schools are provided with grants for participation in either initiative and are provided with support from an external facilitator who assists the school in developing their plans.

314 schools, primary and post primary are participating in the Creative schools initiative at present, with 82 of those being DEIS schools, with a further 149 schools participating in Creative Clusters. In 2020, 50 of the 164 new schools participating in the Creative Schools programme are categorised as DEIS.

DEIS – (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) is my Department’s main targeted policy initiative aimed at tackling educational disadvantage in primary and post primary schools.

In the 2020/21 school year there are 689 primary and 198 post primary schools participating in the DEIS programme serving in the region of 185,000 students. My Department will invest in the region of €125 million this year on the DEIS programme. Details of the all the supports available to DEIS Schools can be found at:

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