Ryan O'Meara
Question:425. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education and Youth when schools can apply for reclassification of their DEIS status; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65937/25]
View answerTuesday, 25 November 2025
Questions (425)
Written answers
Tackling education disadvantage and helping students reach their full potential is a key priority for the Minister for Education and Youth. The DEIS programme is a key policy initiative of Government to address concentrated educational disadvantage at school level. It is a goal of this Government to reduce educational disadvantage and promote equity across Irish schools, focusing particularly on vulnerable groups including children from lower socio-economic backgrounds, children living in homelessness, Travellers, and Roma and migrant communities.
The DEIS programme is targeted at schools with the highest levels of concentrated disadvantage. The Minister is determined to close the performance gap between DEIS and non-DEIS schools and introduce more innovative solutions to tackle disadvantage. A new DEIS Strategy will be published before the end of the year. This Strategy will focus on improving the opportunities and achievement levels of children at risk of educational disadvantage, developing more innovative approaches to tackling educational disadvantage, and working towards a more flexible system of support to ensure that a school can receive the right support at the right time.
As was the case with the current DEIS programme, schools will not be required to apply for inclusion in the new DEIS programme and the process will be evidence informed based on current data. Overall allocation of resources will be considered within the context of the new DEIS Strategy and the availability of resources.