Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 February 2017
234. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will publish a detailed outline of the new assessment framework now used to determine if a school qualifies for DEIS supports; if he will specify the differences between the previous and current assessment frameworks used to determine a school's qualification for DEIS status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8662/17]
View answerA key element of DEIS Plan 2017 Plan is the availability of a new identification process for the assessment of schools for inclusion in DEIS using centrally held CSO and DES data.
The key data sources are the DES Primary Online Database (POD) and Post-Primary Online (PPOD) Databases, and CSO data from the National Census of Population as represented in the Pobal HP Index for Small Areas which is a method of measuring the relative affluence or disadvantage of a particular geographical area. Variables used in the compilation of the HP Index include those related to demographic growth, social class composition and labour market situation. This data is combined with pupil data, anonymised and aggregated to small area, to provide information on the relative level of concentrated disadvantage present in the pupil cohort of individual schools. Further information on the development of the identification process is available in the DEIS Review report which can be found on my Department's website at http://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Services/DEIS-Delivering-Equality-of-Opportunity-in-Schools-/
The overarching approach in both 2005 and 2016 was to conduct analysis on relevant data to identify relative levels of concentrated disadvantage associated with individual schools on the basis of their pupil cohorts.
In 2005 due to the absence of centrally held data, the identification of schools at primary level was based on a survey of school Principals in terms of the socio economic demographic of their pupil cohort. At post-primary level exam and other pupil data was used.
Advances since 2005 in the availability of centrally held data sources provided significant opportunities for the development of a new Assessment Framework for the identification of schools. These data are, Primary and Post Primary Online Database (POD and PPOD) information provided by schools to my Department, together with CSO Small Areas of Population Statistics (SAPs) as represented in the Pobal HP Index of Deprivation (HP Index).
The current identification process is applied on a uniform basis across all schools, both primary and post-primary; it is responsive to the assessment of new schools, schools established by amalgamation, or schools where a significant change in pupil demographic is observed.
