A MAJOR expansion of the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) programme will see 22 Limerick schools benefitting from the latest round of funding.
Schools in the DEIS programme avail of a range of supports aimed at tackling educational disadvantage, including additional teaching posts, home school community liaison coordinator posts, DEIS grant funding and access to the School Completion Programme.
The Limerick primary schools to be included are: Scoil Naisiunta Loch Guir, Croom NS, Church Street NS, Fedamore NS, Kilmeedy NS, Scoil na Naoinean, Scoil Tobar Padraig, Scoil Cnoc Loinge B, Scoil Naomh Mhuire NS, Askeaton Senior NS, Scoil Chaitríona, St. Josephs Convent, Abbeyfeale Boys NS, Convent of Mercy NS, Scoil O Curain B, Scoil Mocheallóg, Scoil Padraig Naofa B, Scoil Padraig Naofa C, Scoil Chriost Ri B, Scoil Naisiunta Muire na hEireann and St. Brigids NS.
St Clements College is also included as part of the expansion announcement.
Limerick Fianna Fáil TD and Minister of State Niall Collins said the latest round of funding was the largest-ever single investment in the DEIS programme and demonstrated the Government’s commitment to inclusive education and supporting students facing disadvantage.
“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,” Minister Collins explained.
“Schools were not required to apply for inclusion in the DEIS programme and the model has been applied fairly and equally to all schools”.
Information sessions will be held for schools in the coming weeks to explain what supports will be available and to support them in planning for improvement.
Schools included in the programme will access supports to match their respective band from September. Schools are assigned to the DEIS bands based on their location and their level of concentrated educational disadvantage.
