Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 October 2014
273. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will take new applications from schools seeking DEIS status, in view of the economic changes that have occurred in recent years and the understaffing facing some schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39264/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe process of identifying primary and post-primary schools for participation in the DEIS Programme was managed by the Educational Research Centre (ERC) on behalf of the Department and supported by quality assurance work co-ordinated through the Department's regional offices and the Inspectorate in 2005.
The DEIS programme is the subject of ongoing evaluation by both the Educational Research Centre and my Department's Inspectorate who have produced a series of evaluation reports to date, copies of which are available on my Department's website.
This research was also the subject of a recent research seminar entitled "Learning from DEIS" at which my predecessor Minister Ruairi Quinn announced plans to commission a further overall report in relation to DEIS to provide recommendations for a renewal of the Government's policy in relation to educational disadvantage, including DEIS. Commissioning of this report is currently underway.
A key priority is to continue to prioritise and target resources at schools with the most concentrated levels of disadvantage and given the current economic climate and the ongoing challenge to meet significant targets on reducing public expenditure, there is no capacity to provide for additionality schools in the DEIS programme at this time.
