Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 October 2018
162. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the additional quality assurance work being carried out on the identification model employed for the purpose of assessing schools as part of the DEIS scheme formally commenced; the details of this work; when this work will be formally completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44023/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra163. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if plans to reassess all schools by quarter one of 2018 in terms of their identified level of disadvantage, taking into account the updated census data from 2016 combined with updated school data, have been achieved and completed in relation to the identification model employed as part of the DEIS scheme; if so, the details of the schools which have been identified by this new model as qualifying for DEIS supports in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44024/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra164. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason no additional schools have been conferred with DEIS status in relation to the commitment made to reassess all schools by quarter one of 2018 for the purpose of identifying schools in need of DEIS supports; when schools identified following this process can expect to begin to receive DEIS supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44025/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 162 to 164, inclusive, together.
One of the objectives of DEIS Plan 2017 is to more closely match resources with identified needs in individual schools within a finite financial envelope. DEIS Plan 2017 states that the improved data on the socio-demographic of schools resulting from the new identification model will have an impact not only on the assessment for schools for inclusion in the programme but also on the scaling of resources to allow for more graduated levels of support. This in turn allows for the ultimate objective of allocating resources to best meet the identified need of individual schools.
In order to achieve this, we need to ensure that the current identification model is as accurate as possible and this will be facilitated by the use of Eircode to ensure correct inputting of addresses.
Eircode functionality is currently being encoded on the relevant databases within my Department and an independent accredited encoder, Gamma Autoaddress, have been contracted to provide the necessary services to facilitate this. Work on this project is well underway. The intention is that the encoding process will provide either an Eircode or a small area code for more than 80% of pupils. It is anticipated that following the required testing and a communications process with schools, full functionality and application should be possible by the end of Q1 2019.
Further analysis is also required to examine other variables known to be strong predictors of educational disadvantage in the context of resource allocation.
In order to ensure the quality of the address data and conduct further analysis, it is not my intention to extend the DEIS programme to any further schools until this work is complete.
I wish to advise the Deputy that work is continuing on the implementation of the various Actions under DEIS Plan 2017 with a focus on targeting extra resources as closely as possible at those students with the greatest level of need. Work has also commenced on identifying such interventions that are having the greatest impact on tackling educational disadvantage. This will involve testing new approaches in groups of schools and working closely with schools in school self-evaluation and planning improvements.
