Mary Butler
Question:293. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the next round of DEIS bands will be allocated to national schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28188/19]
View answerDáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 July 2019
293. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the next round of DEIS bands will be allocated to national schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28188/19]
View answerMy Department is currently undertaking data analysis in the context of resource allocation to match identified need, including the examination of variables known to be strong predictors of educational disadvantage. All schools at both Primary and Post Primary are being assessed using the new identification model.
This analysis is being carried out by members of the DEIS Technical Group which contains representatives of the Department’s Statistics and Social Inclusion Units, the Inspectorate and the Educational Research Centre. Work is ongoing by this group, including consultation with relevant experts. I am confident that the culmination of this analysis will facilitate the ultimate aim of matching resources to identified need and will allow us to target extra resources at those schools most in need.
Until this analysis is complete, it is not intended to extend the DEIS programme to any further schools.
The DEIS advisory group (which includes school management bodies and unions) was briefed on progress on 28th May by officials from my Department and it is intended to schedule a further meeting of the DEIS advisory group for October this year.