315. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will outline the exact selection methodology and publish the scoring criteria in tabular form for DEIS + allocation to ensure transparency for excluded schools. [67110/26]

Addressing educational disadvantage and ensuring that every child and young person can reach their full potential is a key priority for the Minister for Education and Youth and for the Government. The DEIS Plus scheme, launched as part of the DEIS Strategy to 2035, represents the most significant expansion of targeted supports since the establishment of the DEIS programme.

DEIS Plus provides enhanced, evidence-based supports to schools with the highest concentrations of children and young people at risk of educational disadvantage. Schools were identified through a nationally consistent, data-based model that draws on a range of indicators associated with persistent and intergenerational disadvantage. The DEIS Plus identification model was designed to identify schools with the highest concentrations of children and young people at risk of educational disadvantage.

Schools have been identified for inclusion in the DEIS Plus scheme using the DEIS Plus identification model, an objective and data-based approach that uses nationally available indicators applied consistently across all schools. The identification model is underpinned by a range of administrative data on every child and young person enrolled in primary and post-primary school. This data includes:

• The Pobal HP Deprivation Index for the small area in which the child or young person lives, obtained through the child’s or young person’s address data provided by their school on the DEY Primary Online Database (POD) or the Post-Primary Online Database (PPOD).

• The child’s or young person’s ethnicity, if provided by their school on POD or PPOD.

• If the child’s or young person’s address on POD or PPOD matches an address of State-funded homeless accommodation.

• If the child’s or young person’s address on POD or PPOD matches an address of an International Protection Accommodation Centre (IPAS) or Emergency Reception and Orientation Centre (EROC).

The DEIS Plus identification model includes the addition of a DEIS Plus index. The DEIS Plus index was developed by the department’s statistics unit to support the identification of schools for DEIS Plus. The DEIS Plus index uses the same factors as the Pobal HP Deprivation Index but places greater weight on lone parenthood and unemployment, which have been widely identified as key factors in persistent and intergenerational disadvantage.

Children and young people from ‘very disadvantaged’ or ‘extremely disadvantaged’ areas (HP score -20 under either the Pobal HP Deprivation Index or the DEIS Plus index), residing in State-funded emergency accommodation, residing in IPAS or EROC accommodation, or identifying as Traveller or Roma are designated priority cohorts within the model.

Disadvantage scores can be an important tool for identifying need and directing support. However, the publication of these scores can lead to unfair comparisons as they do not reflect the different contexts in which schools operate. The publication of such data can also unintentionally reinforce stigma and risk the deepening of inequality. The Department uses this data carefully and in context, focusing on ensuring resources and supports reach the schools that need it the most, while avoiding any potential harm to school communities. For these reasons, the Department does not publish disadvantage scores.

Following an assessment of the past three years’ data, only those schools identified as having the highest concentrations of children and young people at risk of educational disadvantage have been included in the scheme. If a school has not been identified for inclusion, this does not imply there is no disadvantage in the school community. While many schools experience significant need, not all will meet the statistical threshold for inclusion at this stage. Schools will continue to be supported through the range of additional resources provided through the DEIS programme.

My department is committed to ensuring that all schools are treated equally and fairly in the manner in which they have been identified for inclusion in the DEIS Plus scheme. Schools that were not satisfied with the outcome of the application of the DEIS Plus identification model to their enrolment data had the opportunity to have that outcome reviewed. Following the conclusion of the appeals process, 129 schools were identified for inclusion in the DEIS Plus scheme.

Further information on the DEIS Plus scheme, including the DEIS Plus Identification Model Technical Paper, is available at www.gov.ie/DEIS. A detailed methodology paper setting out further detail on the DEIS Plus identification model is scheduled for publication in October.