DEIS programme expansion includes 79 extra schools

By Mary Dennehy

THE DEIS programme has been extended, with the new programme announced this week including two new local primary schools and four community colleges, with seven schools already in the support programme receiving additional resources.

Despite many communities facing major socio-economic challenges in recent years, no new school has been admitted to the DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) programme since 2009.

However, this week the DEIS Plan 2017 was published by the Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton TD, with the support programme expanding to include 79 new schools.

As part of the programme, 30 schools, already in DEIS, will also receive additional resources.

According to the Minister, the new plan aims to build on the experiences of existing DEIS schools and “break down cycles of disadvantage through improved educational outcomes”.

Locally, new schools Scoil Aoife on Citywest Drive, Tallaght, and the Holy Spirit Junior and Senior National schools in Greenhills have been added to the DEIS programme.

A number of secondary schools have also been included, St Paul’s secondary school, Greenhills, St Mark’s Community School in Springfield, Coláiste de hÍde Tallaght, and Meanscoil Iognáid Rís in Walkinstown.

Seven schools already in DEIS are set to receive additional resources as they move from DEIS band 2 to DEIS band 1, and include Scoil Aenghusa Junior and Senior national schools, Balrothery, St Maelruain’s national school Jobstown, St Dominic’s national school, Mountain Park, Naomh Cillin senior national school, Inchicore, Muire na Dea Coirle, Drimnagh and Lady of Good Counsel, Drimnagh.

New targets of the programme are to further improve literacy, improve school completion dates and improve progression to further and higher education.

This week local Fianna Fáil deputy John Lahart said that the decision to lift the cap on the expansion of the DEIS programme will deliver equality of opportunity in various communities facing socio-economic challenges.

According to Deputy Lahart: “The ERSI report on DEIS indicates that a significant proportion of disadvantaged students attend non-DEIS schools, recommending that there should be tapering of funding to address education disadvantage for schools as well as targeted supports for disadvantaged children in non-DEIS schools across the capital.

“I believe there is a case for a degree of tapering of funding for schools rather than a sharp withdrawal below the specified cut-off.

“Ensuring that every child, regardless of their circumstances in life or postal address, gets a quality, progressive education should be an absolute priority for society.”