Fifteen Mayo schools added to DEIS programme
THE DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) programme has been expanded, with 15 new Mayo schools added to the programme.
Eligible schools will now gain access to targeted supports to address educational disadvantage.
The schools joining the DEIS programme from September 2022 in Mayo are:
Cullens NS, Ballina
SN Naomh Padraig, Knockmore
Kilmovee NS
Knockanillo NS, Ballina
SN Brighde, Tooreen
Culmore NS, Swinford
St. Joseph's NS, Rehins, Ballina
Tavrane Central NS
Swinford NS
Bunscoil Naomh Bríd agus Pádraíg, Foxford
Scoil Iosa, Ballyhaunis
Gaelscoil na gCeithre Maol, Cearnóg an Mhargaidh, Béal an Átha
St. Joseph's Community College, Charlestown
St. Patrick's College, Lacken Cross
Ballyhaunis Community School
Said Deputy Michael Ring: “I welcome the news that these schools in Mayo can now 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.”
Senator Lisa Chambers said this is the largest-ever single investment in the DEIS programme, which is an internationally recognised, proven programme that provides targeted resources to schools with the highest levels of concentrated educational disadvantage to support their students to have an equal opportunity to achieve their potential in education.
The announcement, she said, 'demonstrates our commitment to inclusive education and supporting students facing disadvantage'.
“I am pleased that we can provide additional supports to those schools and communities that need it most.”
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 DEIS 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. Information sessions will be held for schools in the coming weeks on the DEIS programme, what supports will be available to schools and to support them in planning for improvement. Materials are in development to inform parents and students of the benefits of inclusion in the DEIS programme.