Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 October 2015
679. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which poverty and disadvantage continue to affect children at primary and at secondary levels; the action she has taken, or proposes to take, to address this issue and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34672/15]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, DEIS- Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools, is my Departments main policy instrument for tackling educational disadvantage. The recently published ESRI report on "Learning from the Evaluation of DEIS" which was commissioned by my Department, draws together the learning to date from the implementation of DEIS and identifies some of the challenges for future policy in this area. I see this Report as a starting point for a new discussion on the future of DEIS.
I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the process for the review of the DEIS Programme is underway. This process involves a number of strands including:- a consultation process with the Education Partners to inform the development of appropriate future interventions to tackle educational disadvantage;- the establishment of an inter-Departmental Group to ensure a joined-up approach to future delivery of services in the DEIS Programme;- the establishment of a Technical Group which is working to establish what eligibility criteria are now appropriate to re-identify the level of need in schools;- the establishment of a DEIS Advisory Group within my Department.
The review process is being undertaken over the course of the current school year and will consider all issues pertaining to educational disadvantage. I hope to be in a position to make an overall proposal for the delivery of future interventions to tackle educational disadvantage after that.
