Mattie McGrath
Ceist:100. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the assessment methodology for DEIS application has been revised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5088/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 1 February 2018
Ceisteanna (100)
Freagraí scríofa
The approach taken to identify levels of disadvantage in schools was informed by the Review of the DEIS programme in 2016. As you are aware, the identification of levels of disadvantage in schools is based on data provided by schools themselves, combined with publicly available Small Area of Population Census data, as represented by the Pobal HP Index. The data is applied uniformly across all the schools in the country. A detailed account of the methodology adopted is available on my Department’s website.
An update of the identification model is currently underway. This will take account of the most recent pupil data as provided by schools for the current academic year. This information is combined with the Pobal HP Index of Deprivation, based on CSO Small Area Population Statistics derived from the 2016 National Census. It is envisaged that this process will be completed by the end of Quarter 1 of this year.
Just to be clear schools are not required to make an application for DEIS as all schools are assessed using the new uniform identification model.