Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
853. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education if a school (details supplied) will receive additional funding through the digital strategy grant to continue its DEIS connect programme given that it is growing to a 1000-pupil school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42605/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraDelivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools is the main policy initiative of my Department to address educational disadvantage at school level.
The renewed DEIS Plan published in 2017 sets out the vision for future interventions in the critical area of educational disadvantage policy and builds on what has already been achieved by schools who have benefitted from the additional supports available under the initial DEIS programme introduced in 2005.
In March I announced a major expansion of the DEIS programme. The expansion has allowed for the inclusion of 322 additional schools in the DEIS programme from September 2022. This means that the DEIS programme now supports over 240,000 students in over 1,200 schools.
My Department will spend approximately €170 million in 2022 on providing supports to schools in the DEIS programme. This will increase to over €180 million from 2023. My Department’s investment in DEIS in the 2022/23 school year includes providing for;
- HSCL supports to all DEIS Urban Primary and DEIS Post Primary schools. .
- Additional posts for DEIS Band 1 primary schools to allow for a reduced pupil teacher ratio.
- Curriculum supports
- Priority access to continuing professional development
- School Excellence Fund - DEIS
- DEIS grants and enhanced book grants.
DEIS Connect programme does not form part of the resources provided by my Department under the DEIS programme.
The Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 was published in April 2022 and builds on the achievements of the previous Digital Strategy for Schools. It aims to further support the school system so that all students across our schools have the opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills they need to navigate an ever-evolving digital world successfully. The strategy was developed following an extensive consultation process and is underpinned by an overall investment of €200 million. €50 million has already issued directly to schools, with DEIS schools receiving a 10% increase on the per capita amount.
In addition, €50 million in grant funding was issued to schools in November 2021 as part of Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) to address the needs of their learners at risk of educational disadvantage through the digital divide. My Department also issued a once-off grant in December 2021 to recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme.
While the digital funding provided to schools recently is not allocated for individual programmes, such as DEIS Connect, schools can use the funding to address their own ICT requirements including the provision of devices to students, software and other ICT solutions.
Dublin Dun Laoghaire Education and Training Board received in the region of €48,000 in digital funding in 2021 in respect of the school referred to by the Deputy.
