Written answers

Tuesday, 29 July 2025

Department of Education and Skills

Educational Disadvantage

Photo of Rory HearneRory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats)
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1250. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on the establishment of a new DEIS Plus scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43781/25]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen 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. 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 wellbeing 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 is investing over €180 million annually to provide additional supports to almost 1,200 schools in the DEIS programme.

As Minister, I am determined to close the performance gap between DEIS and non-DEIS schools and introduce more innovative solutions to tackle educational disadvantage. Part of delivering this objective will be the introduction of a new DEIS Plus scheme to support schools with the highest levels of disadvantage.

To inform the development of the DEIS Plus scheme, I have established a design advisory group with principals, Home School Community Liaison and School Completion Programme coordinators who work every day with children from areas of high inter-generational disadvantage. This group, which I met in March, led by officials from my Department are using a student-centred design approach to identify the resources needed to ensure the DEIS plus scheme will meet the needs of children and young people at acute risk of educational disadvantage.

My Department is also intensifying its engagement with other Government Departments and agencies, the education partners, and stakeholders across the education sector to develop the DEIS Plus scheme.

The details of the DEIS plus scheme are currently in development. I am committed to delivering a new DEIS Plan this year to outline my Department’s overall approach to tackle educational disadvantage, and the DEIS Plus scheme will be an important part of that plan.

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