Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 June 2016
172. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills to immediately include a school (details supplied) under the delivering equality of opportunity in schools scheme and in whatever interim arrangements are in place pending his decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14141/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy may be aware that a process to review the DEIS Programme is currently underway in my Department. The overall scope of the review is to assess the existing DEIS Programme in the context of evaluations to date and any relevant policy and other developments in order to inform future policy to tackle educational disadvantage.
All aspects of the DEIS programme are being considered including the identification of schools. A Technical Advisory Group is examining available data sources in order to develop an improved identification process for the allocation of resources in the future.
The majority of the review work programme is scheduled for completion by the end of the current school year. In the meantime my focus, and that of my Department, is on maintaining current DEIS supports while the review process is underway. The programme for a Partnership Government has committed to publish a new updated Action Plan for Educational Inclusion within 12 months. Subject to Government approval, it is intended to start to implement actions arising from an updated plan in the 2017/18 school year.
Accordingly, pending the outcome of the review process I do not propose to make any changes to the current programme, including the addition of further schools or any other interim arrangements.
