Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 April 2017
186. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to remove schools from DEIS that no longer meet the criteria; the number of schools that would be affected; if the criteria would be based on educational performance or on socioeconomic indicators; the details of the criteria that would be applied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18678/17]
View answerAs I have previously informed the Deputy, the key data sources are the DES Primary Online Database (POD) and Post-Primary Online (PPOD) Databases as populated by schools and the CSO Small Area of Population (SAP) data from the National Census of Population 2011 as represented by the Pobal HP Deprivation Index (HP Index). Variables used in the compilation of the HP Index include those related to demographic growth, dependency ratios, education levels, single parent rate, overcrowding, social class, occupation and unemployment rates. These data are 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. Educational performance is not included in the identification process.
In terms of the process to date, as I have previously explained to the Deputy, the measure I took on 13th February last to extend DEIS supports to schools with the highest levels of concentrated disadvantage represents a first step in implementing DEIS Plan 2017.
The application of the new model has identified that some schools, currently included in DEIS, have a level of disadvantage within their school populations which is much lower than that identified in some schools not in the programme. As noted in DEIS Plan 2017, we must consider whether it is fair that those schools continue receiving additional resources, including resources that may be more fairly allocated to schools with greater levels of disadvantage.
As noted in the DEIS Plan, the implementation of a new objective central data-based model of identifying levels of disadvantage within school populations will be followed by a further programme of work to create a more dynamic model where levels of resource more accurately follow the levels of need identified by that model.
The outcome of this further programme of work will inform future decision-making on resource allocation to all schools.
I wish to assure the Deputy that I aim to take a prudent approach to managing the future allocation of supports under DEIS, as provided for in DEIS Plan 2017.
