Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 November 2016
227. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the criteria for Delivering Equality of Opportunities in Schools, DEIS, status and funding going forward with regard to the review of DEIS; if there are changes to the component of DEIS; the most relevant information in supporting a submission; the timeframe for the roll out of the new DEIS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37515/16]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, a process to review the DEIS Programme which began last year is nearing completion and it is my intention to publish a new Action Plan for Educational Inclusion in the coming weeks.
The review process is looking at all aspects of DEIS, including the range and impact of different elements of the School Support Programme, the potential for innovation within and between schools and its scope for increased integration of services provided by other Departments and Agencies, in order to improve effectiveness.
Among the measures to be included in the plan are a series of pilot schemes aimed at introducing measures which have been shown to work well in improving results for disadvantaged children and students. The plan is expected to include targeted measures in the area of:
- School leadership
- School networks and clusters
- Teaching methodologies
- Integration of schools and other State supports within communities
- Greater use of Home School Community Liaison services
Overall resources under the new School Support Programme, including funding, will be informed by the outcome of this review process.
A new assessment framework is also being developed using centrally held CSO and DES data for the identification of new schools for inclusion. The number of schools to be included in the programme will be determined by this proposed new identification process which will assess all schools in the country. Schools will not be required to submit an application for assessment as the methodology being applied involves the use of centrally held data already available to my Department.
Funding will be considered as part of the Action Plan.
Implementation of actions arising from the Action Plan for Educational Inclusion will begin in the 2017/18 school year, and will be a continuing theme in our wider Annual Action Plan for Education.
Further information on the DEIS Review process is available on my Department’s website at http://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Services/DEIS-Delivering-Equality-of-Opportunity-in-Schools-/DEIS-Review-Process-Information-Note.pdf
