9th March 2022
Minister Foley has this afternoon announced changes to the DEIS scheme which sees more than 300 new schools added to the programme.
To access the list of new DEIS schools click here.
Reacting to the announcement, INTO General Secretary John Boyle said:
The INTO has campaigned for a root and branch review of the DEIS scheme for more than a decade. Decisions on DEIS identification must and should always be led by the data – a thorough and holistic approach this time round is much preferred to the piecemeal approach taken in 2017. The INTO was deeply disappointed that the 2017 review process failed to take the significant needs of children who are homeless, those living in direct provision and members of the travelling and Roma communities into account.
It is clear from today’s announcement that 310 primary schools will have more certainty in respect of the future supports they will receive for many of the most vulnerable children in the country. These schools have waited far too long to be included in the scheme.
Government has heeded our calls for class size reductions in all schools, including DEIS Urban Band One schools last September and again from next September. That said, the fact remains that the vast majority of children in Ireland, including many in our DEIS schools, are being taught in class sizes well above the EU and OECD averages.
The evidence is clear that children who experience educational disadvantage and younger children benefit hugely from smaller class sizes. The INTO will continue to call for class size reductions to be expedited to end the scourge of supersized classes once and for all.
We will continue to engage with the social inclusion unit at the Department of Education to ensure that extra targeted supports are made available to schools in the most acutely disadvantaged communities, following the pandemic.”
Supports provided to DEIS schools are set out as follows:
Supports for DEIS Band 1 schools (primary)
- There are designated staffing schedules for DEIS Band 1 schools giving a class size of 19:1 in junior schools, 21:1 in vertical schools (schools with junior and senior classes) and 23:1 in senior schools
- Administrative Principal are appointed on an enrolment of 115 pupils
- DEIS grant paid based on level of disadvantage and enrolment.
- Access to Home School Community Liaison Services (HSCL)
- Access to range of supports under School Completion Programme
- Access to literacy/numeracy support such as Reading Recovery, Maths Recovery, First Steps, Ready Set Go Maths
- Access to planning supports
- Access to a range of professional development supports
- Additional funding under School Books Grant Scheme
- DEIS Identification Process
Supports for DEIS Band 2 schools (primary)
- Administrative principal is appointed on an enrolment of 142 pupils
- DEIS grant paid based on level of disadvantage and enrolment DEIS Grant Guidelines
- Access to Home School Community Liaison Services (HSCL)
- Access to range of supports under School Completion Programme
- Access to literacy/numeracy support such as Reading Recovery, Maths Recovery, First Steps, Ready Set Go Maths
- Access to planning supports
- Access to a range of professional development supports
- Additional funding under School Books Grant Scheme
Supports for DEIS Rural schools (primary)
- DEIS grant paid based on level of disadvantage and enrolment
- Access to School Meals Programme
- Access to planning supports
- Access to a range of professional development supports
- Additional funding under School Books Grant Scheme