Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 July 2026
222. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of schools that applied for DEIS Plus status; the schools that were not accepted; and whether she intends to extend the scheme further. [54112/26]
View answerAddressing educational disadvantage and ensuring that every child and young person can reach their full potential is a key priority for me as Minister for Education and Youth and for the Government. The new DEIS Plus scheme, which will commence this year and was launched as part of the DEIS Strategy to 2035, represents the most significant expansion of targeted supports since the establishment of DEIS. DEIS Plus is designed to provide enhanced, evidence-based supports to a cohort of 121 schools with the highest concentrations of children and young people at risk of educational disadvantage.
Schools were not required to apply for inclusion in the DEIS Plus scheme, rather, they were identified through a refined data-based model that draws on a range of indicators associated with persistent and intergenerational disadvantage.
The Department of Education and Youth is committed to ensuring that all schools are treated equally and fairly in the manner in which they have been identified for inclusion in the DEIS Plus scheme. Schools that were not satisfied with the outcome following the application of the DEIS Plus identification model to their enrolment data were invited by the department to have that outcome reviewed through a formal appeal process.
The appeal process was designed to ensure that the DEIS Plus identification model was applied consistently, transparently and fairly across all eligible schools. Schools were afforded the opportunity either to correct inaccuracies identified in enrolment data submitted through POD or PPOD, or to request verification that the model had been correctly applied to their existing data.
The grounds for appeal were limited to matters directly related to the enrolment data underpinning the model. Following completion of this process, schools will be notified in writing of the outcome of their appeal.
The appeal process opened on 27 April 2026 and closed on 25 May 2026. The process is in its final stages. It would not be appropriate to comment on individual schools or on the status of any individual appeal until that process has concluded. It is anticipated that schools will be informed of the outcome in July 2026.
Any future expansion of the DEIS Plus scheme will be considered within the context of the DEIS Strategy to 2035 and the availability of resources.
