Skip to main content
Normal View

DEIS Review

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 February 2018

Tuesday, 20 February 2018

Questions (195, 196, 197, 198)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

195. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of additional schools and pupils included in the programme as a result of the review of DEIS published in January 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8547/18]

View answer

Catherine Connolly

Question:

196. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the purpose of the identification model in relation to DEIS; the date on which the update of the identification model will be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8548/18]

View answer

Catherine Connolly

Question:

197. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) previously excluded will be reconsidered for inclusion in the scheme further to the publication of the identification model in relation to DEIS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8549/18]

View answer

Catherine Connolly

Question:

198. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 61 of 1 February 2018, the status of the assessment of all schools in relation to the DEIS programme; when it will be completed; if a school (details supplied) that was previously excluded will be reconsidered for inclusion in the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8550/18]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 195 to 198, inclusive, together.

We have, for the first time, introduced an objective, statistics based model for deciding which schools merit inclusion in the DEIS Programme, so that all stakeholders can have confidence that we are targeting extra resources at those schools with the highest concentrated levels of disadvantage.

The key data sources used in the DEIS identification process 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, dependency ratios, education levels, single parent rate, overcrowding, social class, occupation and unemployment rates. This data is combined with pupil data supplied by schools, anonymised and aggregated to small area, to provide information on the relative level of concentrated disadvantage present in the pupil cohort of individual schools.

A detailed document explaining the methodology used in the Identification process is also available on the Department’s website at www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Services/DEIS-Delivering-Equality-of-Opportunity-in-Schools-/DEIS-Identification-Process.pdf.

The purpose of the Identification Model is to assess all schools, both primary and post-primary, to identify levels of disadvantage among the pupil cohort of each individual school. The identification model is applied in a uniform way across the entire school system. 79 schools were included in DEIS for the first time and 30 schools were identified as needing extra supports which were allocated with effect from September 2017. These schools were those identified as having the highest levels of disadvantage in the pupil cohort of the school. A list of these schools is available on the Department's website at www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Services/DEIS-Delivering-Equality-of-Opportunity-in-Schools-/DEIS-Plan-2017-New-DEIS-Schools-List.pdf.

The current status is that an update of the identification model is currently underway. This will take account of updated school data, as provided by schools for the current school year, combined with the Pobal HP Index of Deprivation, based on Small Area Population statistics derived from the 2016 National Census. It is envisaged that this process will be completed by the end of Quarter 1 this year.

Should this exercise reveal that any school which did not qualify for DEIS in 2017, including the school referred to by the Deputy, meets the criteria applicable to schools with the highest concentration of disadvantage based on the updated information then additional schools may be included subject to available resources.

Top
Share