The Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) programme is my Department's main strategy to tackle educational disadvantage at school level. this year my Department will spend almost €170million, rising to over €180million in 2023, supporting schools in the DEIS programme. These supports include the allocation of DEIS Grants, enhanced school book grants, allocation of home school community liaison coordinator posts and access to the school completion programme. DEIS supports also include the allocation of Deputy Principal posts and Administrative Principal posts at a lower enrolment threshold for DEIS schools.
The DEIS Plan is based on the premise that if we are to have the maximum possible impact on providing opportunities for students most at risk of educational disadvantage, then our extra resources must be targeted as closely as possible at those students with the greatest level of need. The DEIS plan aims to create a more dynamic resource allocation model where levels of resources more accurately follow the levels of need identified by the refined DEIS identification model.
The allocation of Assistant Principal posts may be considered as part of the DEIS resource allocation process and any changes to this allocation would need to be considered as part of the normal budgetary process.
