Written answers
Thursday, 17 July 2025
Department of Education and Skills
Departmental Data
Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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330. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of detailed correspondence received from a school (details supplied) regarding the need for DEIS status to be formally reviewed under the current DEIS identification model, using anonymised, PPSN-linked data already available to her Department, or an equivalent emergency assessment-based provision amounting to same that will allow it to provide critical resources such as home school community liaison (HSCL), reduced pupil-teacher ratios, targeted literacy/numeracy interventions, and vital language supports given its immersive environment; the timeframe for a proactive response; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40379/25]
Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Tackling educational disadvantage and supporting students to fulfil their full potential in life is a key priority for me as Minister for Education and Youth, and for the Government. The DEIS programme is a key policy of Government to tackle concentrated educational disadvantage at school level. It provides a targeted range of supports and is additional to the universal supports provided to all schools, such as the introduction of free school books and free hot school meals. Schools also have access other universal supports such as well-being supports for students through the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS), additional teaching hours under the English as an Additional Language (EAL) scheme and advisory support from the Department’s Inspectorate.
My department invests over €180 million annually to provide additional supports to almost 1,200 schools in the DEIS programme which supports approximately 260,000 students.
The DEIS programme is targeted at schools with the highest levels of concentrated disadvantage. Schools that were included in the most recent expansion of the programme in 2022 were those with the highest levels of concentrated disadvantage as identified through the refined DEIS identification model. Schools were not required to apply for inclusion in the DEIS programme and the model was applied fairly and equally to all schools. A detailed paper on the refined DEIS identification model is available on gov.ie.
Schools were identified for inclusion in the DEIS programme based on their standardised disadvantage score. Schools with the highest levels of concentrated disadvantage are included in the DEIS programme, with those urban primary schools having the very highest levels of disadvantage being assigned to Urban Band 1.
All schools that were not satisfied with the outcome following the application of the DEIS identification model to their school enrolment data, were provided with the opportunity to make an appeal. Circular 0019/2022 outlined the details of the DEIS appeals process. Under the DEIS appeals process, schools were provided with the opportunity to have the application of the refined DEIS identification model to their school's data reviewed. The appeals process also offered schools the opportunity to review their school enrolment data which they had submitted to the department and to improve its accuracy if necessary. All appeals submitted have now been processed by the department and schools have been notified of the outcome. The DEIS appeals process was applied fairly across all appellants, the window for appeals has now closed and the results are final.
The DEIS programme is based on the premise that in order to have the maximum possible impact on providing opportunities for students most at risk of educational disadvantage, extra resources must be targeted as closely as possible at those students with the greatest level of need.
My department is committed to delivering an education system that is of the highest quality, where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential. Migrant children and young people in our schools have faced enormous challenges in their lives and are one of the most vulnerable groups of children in Ireland. The department provides a range of supports through the National Educational Psychological Service, English as an Additional Language teacher allocation and the Special Education teaching allocation to help resource schools to support children in IPAS accommodation or from Ukraine.
My department has adapted to the dynamic landscape of student enrolment particularly with the increase of newly arrived students into the country who require support with English as an additional language. The department's policies enable flexible resource allocation, including additional EAL hours and special education teaching positions, to meet these varying needs.
As Minister, I am determined to close the performance gap between DEIS and non-DEIS schools and introduce more innovative solutions to tackle disadvantage. A new DEIS Plan will be published in 2025. This plan will focus on improving the opportunities and achievement levels of children at risk of educational disadvantage, developing more innovative approaches to tackling educational disadvantage, and working towards a more flexible system of supports to ensure that a school can receive the right support at the right time.
Albert Dolan (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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331. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the proposal to introduce an additional secondary school bus service for students attending a school (details supplied); if the current capacity has been reviewed; and the timeline for when a decision on additional transport provision will be made, in light of ongoing demand in the area. [40383/25]
Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth.
Bus Éireann is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes. Bus Éireann endeavours, within available resources, to ensure that each eligible child has a reasonable level of school transport service in the context of the Scheme nationally.
The closing date for on-time applications and inputting of payment details for the 2025/26 school year has now passed and Bus Éireann are currently assessing all applications and planning for routes and services for the 2025/26 school year. Routes may be altered or extended depending on the number and location of eligible children who will be availing of school transport for the 2025/26 school year. The area referred to by the Deputy is currently one of those being assessed by Bus Éireann. A report will be provided directly to the Deputy as soon as this exercise has been completed.
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