Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 October 2015
572. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) will be reinstated with delivering equality of opportunity in schools status; if not, the reason; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36161/15]
View answerThe school referred to by the Deputy was not included in the DEIS programme during the original identification process in 2005. Therefore the question of reinstatement does not arise.
As the Deputy is aware, the process for the review of the DEIS Programme is currently 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. While this process is underway, I do not intend to make any changes to the current programme, including the addition of any further schools.
