Brendan Smith
Question:121. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education the timeline for the completion of the consultation process in relation to the DEIS programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25109/21]
View answerThursday, 13 May 2021
Questions (121)
Written answers
A key part of the DEIS Plan was the introduction of a new DEIS identification process based on an objective, statistics based model to determine which schools merit inclusion in the programme. An extensive body of work has been undertaken in terms of the refinement of this model. This work has been carried out by the DEIS Technical Group. This group contains representatives of my Department’s Statistics and Social Inclusion Units, the Inspectorate and the Educational Research Centre. As part of the refinement of the model, my Department has commenced consultation process with education stakeholder representatives on the technical aspects and implementation of the model.
As part of the process of the rollout of any changed or new model, my Department will engage with the education partners to ensure that there is a clear understanding across the system and that the process is clear, open, transparent and easily understood.
It is envisaged that the refined DEIS identification model will provide the basis for development of an evidence informed DEIS resource allocation system which will match resources to identified need.
Until this work is complete, it is not intended to extend the DEIS programme to any further schools.