Keira Keogh (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

483. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the process involved for a school that wishes to acquire DEIS status; to provide details of the criteria it must satisfy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61091/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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.

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 Strategy will be published before the end of the year. This Strategy will focus on improving the opportunities and achievement levels of children most 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.

Any future expansion of the DEIS programme or changes to the DEIS identification model will be considered within the context of the new DEIS Strategy which will be published before the end of the year.