Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 April 2026
552. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of schools receiving supports because of their disadvantaged status before the introduction of the DEIS programme; the number included in DEIS when first introduced; the expansions which have occurred since in the coverage of schools at primary and post primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30091/26]
View answerAddressing educational disadvantage in all schools is a key priority for me as Minister for Education and Youth. The DEIS programme provides targeted support to schools with the highest levels of disadvantage. It currently includes almost 1,200 schools - over 30% of all schools - and supports around 250,000 students, or one in four nationwide.
The DEIS programme is the Governments key policy initiative for addressing educational disadvantage at school level. It was introduced in 2006 and continues to provide a range of targeted supports to schools in the programme. The DEIS programme targets additional resources where they are most needed, in schools with the highest concentration of children and young people experiencing educational disadvantage.
Schools have been included in the DEIS Programme in three different tranches. The first groups were included in 2006, when the programme was first established. At primary level a survey of school principals provided data on the percentage of students in the school with characteristics that would reflect disadvantage or affluence. At post-primary level centralised information was used to identify schools for inclusion: the percentage of students with medical cards; school level retention rates for several cohorts; and Junior Cycle examination achievement data over a period of time.
The DEIS review process in 2015 and 2016 found that schools did not want to return to a survey-based approach given the additional administrative burden this put on them. It was considered unfair to expect schools to gather sensitive socioeconomic data on their school communities.
A DEIS identification methodology was developed in 2017, to inform an objective approach to the selection of the second cohort of schools added to this scheme. As a result the DEIS programme was expanded to 79 schools, 64 primary schools and 15 post primary schools.
For the most recent extension, in 2022, the identification model was further developed to include a weighted approach that accounted for the breadth and depth of disadvantage. The refined identification model included additional elements that allowed for the disadvantage experienced by Traveller and Roma students, and students experiencing homelessness and residing in international protection accommodation, outside of the HP index. This resulted in the DEIS programme being expanded to 310 schools, 284 primary schools and 38 post-primary schools.
At each point in time, 2006, 2017 and 2022 the schools found to have the highest concentrations of children and young people at risk of educational disadvantage were the were included in the DEIS programme.
