Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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477. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the criteria for schools to qualify for DEIS status; the progress of a DEIS+ model and when this will be delivered; if she will consider a school (details supplied) who previously applied; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48032/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Tackling education disadvantage and helping students reach their full potential is a key priority for the Minister for Education and Youth. Currently, the DEIS programme supports almost 1,200 primary and post-primary schools, reaching approximately 260,000 students, with an annual investment of over € 180 million.

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 scores are included in the DEIS programme.

The Minister is committed to narrowing the performance gap between DEIS and non-DEIS schools and introducing innovative solutions to address disadvantage. A new DEIS plan will be published this year, which will include a DEIS plus scheme. This new scheme will provide additional support to schools with the highest levels of need, in line with the Government’s commitment. To inform the development of the DEIS Plus scheme, a Design Advisory group has been established. It includes school principals, Home School Community Liaison officers, and School Completion Programme coordinators, professionals who work directly with children experiencing high inter-generational disadvantage. Their insights will help shape a proposal for a DEIS Plus scheme that will support schools with the highest concentrations of children and young people at risk of educational disadvantage. Details of the DEIS Plus scheme are currently being developed in collaboration with the advisory group and will be announced later this year.

Any future expansion of the programme and overall allocation of resources will be considered within the context of the new DEIS plan.