Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 April 2015
149. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills to comment on the extent to which poverty and disadvantage continue to affect children at primary and secondary level; the action she has taken or proposes to take to address any such issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15973/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, DEIS - Delivering equality of Opportunity in Schools, is my Departments main policy instrument for tackling educational disadvantage.
The recently published ESRI report on "Learning from the Evaluation of DEIS" which was commissioned by my Department, draws together the learning to date from the implementation of DEIS and identifies some of the challenges for future policy in this area. I see this report as a starting point for a new discussion on the future of DEIS. To this end, I have commenced a consultation process with education partners to inform the development of appropriate future measures to combat educational disadvantage.
Given the broader social context in which educational disadvantage is situated, an inter-Departmental group will consider the roles of relevant Government Departments in delivering DEIS, A Technical Group will consider appropriate eligibility criteria for a revised identification process for schools over the course of the coming school year.
