Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 February 2018
61. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the transparency of the school selection process for the DEIS scheme will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4688/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe identification process for the DEIS Programme has adopted a new scientific approach for the selection of schools for inclusion in DEIS. As you are aware, the identification of levels of disadvantage in schools is based on data provided by schools themselves, combined with publically 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. The approach taken was informed by the Review of the DEIS programme in 2016. A detailed account of the methodology adopted, is available on my Department’s website at
http://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Services/DEIS-Delivering-Equality-of-Opportunity-in-Schools-/DEIS-Identification-Process.pdf.
As the Deputy will also be aware a further assessment of all schools is currently underway. This will take account of updated school data as provided by schools for the current school year combined with the updated Pobal HP Index of Deprivation, based on Small Area Population statistics derived from the 2016 National Census.
The overall implementation of DEIS Plan 2017 is now underway and I have no plans to conduct any further reviews of the programme, including the Identification Process for schools, at this time.
