Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 May 2021
102. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Education the details of the qualifying criteria, including scores and other assessment parameters which a school has to achieve at a minimum in order to qualify for DEIS status; if the review of the DEIS scheme is complete; if there are proposals for the provision of a summer programme in 2021 to include DEIS schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24881/21]
View answerA detailed analysis of school enrolment data and the latest data available from Census 2016, using the HP Deprivation Index, has been carried out by members of the DEIS Technical Group. This group contains representatives of the Department’s Statistics and Social Inclusion Units, the Inspectorate and the Educational Research Centre. My Department has commenced a consultation process with education stakeholder representatives on the technical aspects and implementation of the model, and work is ongoing on final elements of the model. It is envisaged that this will then provide the basis for development of a DEIS resource allocation system to match resources to identified need. Until this work is complete, it is not intended to extend the DEIS programme to any further schools.
This week I announced the provision of expanded summer education programmes for pupils with complex special educational needs and those at greatest risk of educational disadvantage, as a Covid-19 pandemic response measure, for summer 2021.
Under this expansion of the summer programme, students with complex special educational needs and those at greatest risk of educational disadvantage will have access to an enhanced summer programme of education. The total funding available to provide the programme is up to €40 million, a one hundred per cent increase on the allocation for summer provision in 2020.
The programmes are available to all primary and post primary free education schools, including all DEIS Schools, and aims to support pupils to re-engage with education, to build their confidence and increase their motivation, promote well-being and for some who are at key transition stages, help to ensure they can move on to their planned educational placement next September along with their peers.
