7 Kildare Schools to Benefit from new or Expanded DEIS Status as part of an Expansion of the DEIS Scheme – HEYDON

A total of 7 Kildare schools have been included for the first time or upgraded under an expansion of the DEIS – Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools programme announced by Education Minister Norma Foley this week according to Kildare South TD and Minister Martin Heydon.

“For the first time since 2017 the DEIS programme is being significantly expanded and more Kildare schools will now gain access to targeted supports to address educational disadvantage. Primary schools in Kilmeade, Suncroft, Ticknevin, Athy (Gaelscoil Átha Í) and Newbridge (St Patricks NS Morristown) have been included in the DEIS programme for the first time with schools in Athy (Scoil Mhichil Naofa) and Derrinturn reclassified and eligible for increased supports.

“Schools in the DEIS programme 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 DEIS programme and the model has been applied fairly and equally to all schools.

“I had the opportunity to discuss the revised model in the Seanad this week.  I am aware that there are some Kildare schools who are disappointed not to be included and details of an appeals mechanism will be published shortly.  I am happy to assist any Kildare school who has queries on the results or the process involved,” concluded Minister Heydon.