Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 December 2025
272. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding funding available to support the creation of an interschool soccer competition for a group of DEIS primary schools in Shankill, County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68591/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra273. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth her views on the merits of creating a dedicated fund to support the creation of localised interschool sports competitions with a view to improving participation in sports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68593/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra274. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will consider creating a pilot programme in Shankill, County Dublin to create a localised interschool soccer competition for a group of DEIS primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68595/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 272, 273 and 274 together.
The DEIS programme is a key policy of Government to tackle concentrated educational disadvantage at school level. Currently, the DEIS programme supports almost 1,200 primary and post-primary schools, reaching approximately 260,000 students, with an annual investment of over investment of over €180 million. Budget 2026 allocates an additional €16 million in 2026, rising to €48 million in 2027, to introduce the DEIS Plus scheme and support the implementation of the new DEIS Strategy.
The new DEIS Strategy will set out the Department of Education and Youth’s strategic vision, goals, and objectives to tackle educational disadvantage in all schools. The Strategy has a focus on developing more innovative approaches to addressing educational disadvantage and working towards a more flexible system of support to ensure that all schools can receive the right support at the right time. Overall allocation of resources will be determined within the context of the new DEIS Strategy, which will be published early in 2026.
The Department of Education and Youth also supports the Active School Flag programme. This programme is jointly funded by the Department of Education and Youth and the Department of Health through the Healthy Ireland initiative. It promotes physical activity, using a whole-of-school approach, anchored by student voice and student leadership. It supports schools to find ways to increase the range, variety and type of physical activity opportunities throughout the school day so that primary and post-primary schools become ‘enabling environments’ for physical activity, for all their members.
