Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 June 2018
295. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the €1.5 million allocated to delivering equality of opportunity in schools, DEIS, as outlined in budget 2018; the amount of the allocated funding that has been spent; the way in which the funds were spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24303/18]
View answerThe additional funding provided in Budget 2018 is supporting the implementation of the various actions contained in DEIS Plan 2017 and the extension of supports to schools new to the DEIS programme. 902 schools now avail of supports under the DEIS programme and from 1st September 2017, 79 new schools were included in DEIS for the first time and a further 30 schools were upgraded from Band 2 to Band 1 status. The increased budgetary allocation is required to fund the various supports available as set out in DEIS Plan 2017, including, additional teaching resources and Home School Community Liaison Coordinators, additional funding to DEIS schools and a greater prioritisation of National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) service to DEIS schools.
The Budget 2018 allocation is also funding the roll out of the Incredible Years and Friends Programmes to DEIS schools as well as the School Excellence Fund – DEIS.
The overall suite of supports available to schools participating in the DEIS programme will improve educational outcomes for pupils at greatest risk of not reaching their full potential by virtue of their socio-economic circumstances. A list of the supports available to DEIS Schools is available on my Department’s website at the following link:
https://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Services/DEIS-Delivering-Equality-of-Opportunity-in-Schools-/DEIS-Supporting-Information/Supports-to-DEIS-Schools.html.
