Several local schools to benefit from DEIS expansion

FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2017, THE DEIS PROGRAMME IS BEING SIGNIFICANTLY EXPANDED …

Several local schools are to become part of the DEIS programme, following the announcement of a major expansion of the programme.

An additional 310 schools will benefit from the €32 million expansion in the DEIS (Delivering Equality of opportunity In Schools) programme, with 37 existing DEIS schools also being reclassified and will now be eligible for increased supports.

Local schools to benefit from the expansion of the programme include Canon Sheehan Primary School in Doneraile, Scoil Iosef Naofa in Fermoy, Knocklong National School, Ballyporeen National School, Scoil Mhuire in Tallow, along with Bunscoil Gleann Sidheain in Cappoquin.

For the first time since 2017, the DEIS programme is being significantly expanded and eligible schools will now gain access to targeted supports to address educational disadvantages.

TARGETED SUPPORTS

Announcing the expansion last week, Minister for Education Norma Foley said she was delighted to announce the largest ever single investment in the DEIS programme.

“This investment will provide for in the region of 160 additional primary teaching posts, approximately 100 additional home school community liaison posts, additional guidance and leadership posts as well as DEIS grants and enhanced book grant funding,” Minister Foley said.

Under the DEIS programme, schools can avail of a range of targeted supports aimed at tackling educational disadvantage, including additional classroom teaching posts, home school community liaison coordinator posts, DEIS grant funding and access to the School Completion Programme.

Schools have been identified for inclusion in the programme through the refined DEIS identification model which is an objective, statistics-based model which uses information from the Department of Education enrolment databases and the Pobal HP Deprivation index.

Schools were not required to apply for inclusion in the programme and the model has been applied fairly and equally to all schools.

The Department of Education will work with the schools that will benefit from the programme to support them to make the transition, with information sessions held for schools in the coming weeks. Also, materials are in development to inform parents and students of the benefits of inclusion in the DEIS programme.

From September 2022, these schools will access all supports under the programme to match their respective band, which is assigned based on the location of the school and their level of concentrated educational disadvantage.