Pearse Doherty
Question:64. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education when the additional schools added to the DEIS programme will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4712/22]
View answerTuesday, 1 February 2022
Questions (64)
Oral answers (13 contributions)
In my own constituency and especially in west Donegal, I regularly engage with principals and boards of management of schools in the DEIS scheme. Despite being an area of deprivation by all accounts and statistics, the 2017 DEIS review excluded some primary and post-primary schools in my area that should not have been excluded. As part of the budget, the Minister announced a 20% increase in the allocation of funding to extend the DEIS programme to further schools with the highest levels of disadvantage, and that is badly needed. In what month will schools know if they are to be added to the DEIS programme? When will that be published?
I appreciate the case the Deputy has made. There are similar cases throughout the country. As I said earlier, budget 2022 has provided for an allocation of €18 million for 2022 and €32 million for 2023 to extend the DEIS programme to further schools with the highest levels of disadvantage. As the Deputy has acknowledged, this package represents an increase of over 20% on the €150 million already allocated by my Department to provide supports for schools in the DEIS programme. The DEIS programme currently supports 884 schools. The additional funding provided in budget 2022 will allow for the extension of the programme to additional schools from September 2022.
This year's package follows an extensive body of work which has been undertaken by the DEIS technical group on the development of a model to identify the concentrated levels of disadvantage of schools. The DEIS identification process under the DEIS plan is based on an objective, statistics-based model to determine which schools merit inclusion in the programme. An extensive body of work has been undertaken by the DEIS technical group to develop the refined DEIS identification. The key data sources are the Department of Education primary online database, the post-primary online databases and Central Statistics Office 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.
It is important to note that schools are not required to apply for inclusion in the DEIS programme and that all schools will be considered under the refined model when it is applied. During the process to refine the DEIS identification model, and as is general practice in the Department, my Department has consulted school management, national parent representative bodies and unions on the technical aspects of the refinement of the DEIS identification model. The purpose of this engagement is to ensure, as far as possible, the refined DEIS identification model can provide an objective and independent means of identifying schools serving high concentrations of pupils at risk of educational disadvantage and to ensure there is a full understanding of the refined model and its potential application. There will be further engagement with relevant stakeholders in advance of the implementation of the refined DEIS identification model.
My question is quite simple. When are the schools going to know whether they are in or out of the expanded DEIS programme? That is what principals are asking me. Principals in secondary schools are saying they need to do workforce planning and look at what we are offering schools. They cannot be told in July or August whether they are in a DEIS category or not. I have been raising the issues of Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair, Scoil Rann Na Feirste, Scoil Náisiúnta Gort An Choirce and Scoil Náisiúnta Mhín Teineadh Dé since 2017 because they should never have been left out of the DEIS programme. They are in areas where the deprivation scores are level 10. The schools are rural and isolated in nature. We need to undo the wrong that was done at that time.
Leaving that to one side, my question is quite simple. Perhaps the Minister does not know the answer and if she does not, I ask that she lets me know that is the case. Does the Department know what timeframe and target it is working towards? When will it be able to notify a school that it is now a DEIS school as a result of the 20% expansion?
I thank the Deputy. I want to be clear that the progression, enhancement and expansion of the DEIS model to as many schools as possible has been a chief objective of my Ministry. It is a significant undertaking by the Department of Education to have secured €18 million for 2022 and €32 million for 2023 to advance that objective clearly for the types of schools the Deputy has referenced. Such schools are spread throughout the country. I am conscious of that and I know that. I have clearly said to the Deputy it is my intention that the new DEIS programme, including the schools that will be added to DEIS status, will be operational from September 2022. I am currently working towards that target. I am confident we will reach that target and it will be operational for September 2022.
Of course it is going to be operational in September 2022. We have known that since last year when the budget was allocated for this year. We knew that. When are the schools going to be notified? Is the Minister saying they will be notified on the eve of it becoming operational or are they going to be notified in August or perhaps July, June or April? Does she know when schools are going to be notified? Schools have to plan and they need to know now whether they fall under a DEIS category, which changes the workforce they will be able to look at next year. Schools are planning at this stage, particularly secondary schools for the options that will be available for students.
Does the Department know when that will be published? I am not referring to when it becomes operational; we all know that is happening in September. When will schools be notified that they are either in or out? I appreciate the work. I am glad the Minister has secured that funding. I know there is work to be done but this was agreed in October and it is now February. Are we going to be waiting a number of months? Can the Minister give us perhaps not a date but a month, at least, when schools will be notified of this issue?
Before the Minister comes in, a number of Deputies have indicated. It is difficult for other Members who are waiting if I let everybody in all over again on a question they have not tabled. Deputy O'Connor might be very brief.
I appreciate that, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.
There are Deputies waiting who have tabled questions. It is at the discretion of the Chair.
Tuigim, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. Go raibh maith agat.
I broadly support some of the points that were made by Deputy Doherty to say this is an enormously important issue. Under the current criteria, it is an enormous problem, particularly in the east Cork area with reference to Youghal. It faces enormous economic hardship but is not being included in DEIS, which is of huge interest to local schools. I have met with many of the local principals. I would appreciate if the Minister would look at broadening the economic criteria in this particular area.
I thank the Minister. It is good that a review is under way and that we have an action plan ahead of us. It is important that schools now are in a position to submit data. I know of several schools in County Clare and throughout the country that have carried out a census and socioeconomic profiles such as Ennis Educate Together National School, St. Joseph's Community College, Kilkee, and Holy Family Senior National School. They have their data but have not gone into the Department. We could move this quicker. I implore the Minister to look at that.
As I mentioned earlier, the funding package that was identified of €18 million for 2022 and €32 million for 2023 is to facilitate this being up and running in our schools in September 2022. Our schools will be given ample time. It is my intention to ensure that schools are informed in such time as to allow them to plan for the coming school year.
In advance of any announcements, the Department will engage further with relevant stakeholders. It is important that the process is clear, open, transparent and easily understood. Coming from this sector myself, I am very aware it is also important that schools need significant time for planning. I assure the Deputy that sufficiently in advance of September 2022, which will be the implementation period-----
Which month?
-----schools will be informed of their inclusion in the DEIS model. Again, in terms of points that have been raised, it is important to point out that schools are not required to apply for inclusion in the DEIS programme, and that all schools will be considered under the refined model.