Disadvantaged Status

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 March 2015

Wednesday, 25 March 2015

Questions (171)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

171. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills when her Department will carry out a fresh review of the levels of socio-economic disadvantage in primary and post-primary schools, with a view to including new schools in the delivering equality of opportunity in schools scheme; and if the criteria used will take account of the fact that parents with mortgages may, depending on their circumstances, be in as much financial distress as local authority tenants. [12297/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

A report on Learning from the Evaluation of DEIS commissioned in 2014 is currently nearing completion and I expect to receive the report shortly. This report incorporates information in relation to the various inputs, processes and educational outcomes contained in the findings from the DEIS research and evaluations conducted to date by the Educational Research Centre and my Department's Inspectorate. It also reviews other related Irish and International research on educational disadvantage. The report assesses the main findings of this research and will provide advice to inform future policy direction in relation to educational disadvantage including DEIS.

I look forward to receiving the report.