Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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449. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when she expects the new DEIS plan to be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54951/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The DEIS programme is a key policy of Government to tackle concentrated educational disadvantage at school level. The Minister for Education and Youth is determined to close the performance gap between DEIS and non-DEIS schools and introduce more innovative solutions to tackle disadvantage. The new DEIS plan will be published this year and will include a DEIS plus scheme.

The new DEIS plan will set out the Department of Education and Youth’s strategic vision, goals, and objectives to tackle educational disadvantage in all schools. The plan will focus on improving disadvantage in all schools, developing more innovative approaches to tackle educational disadvantage and working towards a more flexible system of support to ensure that schools can receive the right support at the right time.

It is a goal of this Government to reduce educational disadvantage and promote equity across Irish schools, focusing particularly on vulnerable groups including children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, children living in homelessness, Travellers, and Roma and migrant communities.

Currently, the DEIS programme supports almost 1,200 primary and post-primary schools reaching approximately 260,000, with an annual investment of over investment of over €180 million. Budget 2026 allocates an additional €16 million in 2026, rising to €48 million in 2027 to introduce the DEIS plus scheme and support the implementation of the new DEIS plan.