Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 April 2026
556. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will indicate the reviews of DEIS commissioned by her Department before and since DEIS was introduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30095/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra558. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures of outcome and impact her Department tracks to measure the achievements of DEIS; the way in which they have evolved since its establishment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30097/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 556 and 558 together.
Since the introduction of the DEIS programme, the approach to measuring outcomes has developed over time. The department monitors a range of indicators, including attendance and retention, literacy and numeracy outcomes, and progression through the education system. This is informed by inspection findings from the Department of Education and Youth Inspectorate and participation in supports such as the School Completion Programme.
The DEIS Plan 2017 set out a more structured framework for monitoring and evaluation, with defined targets across key outcome areas. Building on this, the recently launched DEIS Strategy to 2035 places a renewed emphasis on evidence-informed policy and strengthened monitoring and evaluation, including improved use of data to track learner outcomes and progression.
A key action under the strategy is the development and implementation of a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation framework to track and measure the impact of the implementation of the new DEIS strategy. This framework will build on what we currently use to measure outcomes and impacts, such as literacy and numeracy results, attendance, attainment, and retention data. Annual progress reports will be published each year to track the progress the actions outlined in the implementation plan.
In July 2023, Minister Foley announced that the OECD had been invited to conduct a review of Ireland’s resource allocation approach to address educational disadvantage at school level. The OECD ‘Review of Resourcing Schools to Address Educational Disadvantage in Ireland’, published in July 2024 further recognised Ireland as having an equitable education system. International studies such as PISA, TIMSS and PIRLS reflect this equitable system and show that children at risk of educational disadvantage in Ireland have higher outcomes in literacy and numeracy than children from similar backgrounds in most other countries. Nationally, findings outlined in the NAMER DEIS report published in 2023 show no evidence of a decline in average reading or mathematics scores between 2014 and 2021 in Urban Band 1 or Urban Band 2 schools.
The Department will continue to keep the programme under review to ensure that supports are effectively targeted and delivering improved outcomes for children and young people at risk of experiencing educational disadvantage.
