Written answers

Tuesday, 1 February 2022

Department of Education and Skills

Disadvantaged Status

Photo of Kathleen FunchionKathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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95. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason that a school (details supplied) has not been profiled for DEIS designation in the most recent review given that Tullow, County Carlow is listed on the Pobal HP Deprivation Index as a town of disadvantage; if the school will be considered in the next review; and when this review will commence. [4600/22]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Budget 2022 has provided for an allocation of €18million for 2022 and €32million for 2023 to extend the DEIS programme to further schools with the highest levels of disadvantage. This represents an increase of over 20% in funding for the DEIS programme and will enable an expansion in 2022 to additional schools.

This package follows an extensive body of work which has been under taken by the DEIS technical group in relation to the development of a model to identify the concentrated levels of disadvantage of schools. The refined model is an objective, statistics based process, based on school enrolment data and data available from Census 2016 under the HP Deprivation Index. It is important to note that there is no application process for inclusion in the DEIS programme and all schools will be considered for inclusion when it is applied.

In advance of the implementation of the refined DEIS identification model, there will be further engagement with relevant stakeholders. The purpose is to ensure that, as far as possible, the refined DEIS identification model can provide an objective and independent means of identifying schools serving high concentrations of pupils at risk of educational disadvantage and also to ensure there is a full understanding of the refined model and its potential application. 

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