111. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the anomaly that prevented schools (details supplied) as DEIS Band I Urban schools each being able to appoint a dedicated HSCL is still applicable; if so, what is the anomaly, given that no such restrictions apply elsewhere in Dublin 15; and the objective criteria that were met by another school; if the anomaly will be overturned; and the process that is in place to ensure objective and fair treatment of schools within the DEIS programme in light of these anomalies. [72641/26]

Addressing educational disadvantage in all schools remains a key priority for me as Minister for Education and Youth.

The HSCL scheme is a core element of the DEIS programme and forms part of the wider Tusla Education Support Service (TESS).  While HSCL Coordinator posts are full-time positions, not all posts are assigned exclusively to a single school. In some cases, a HSCL Coordinator is allocated on a shared basis across a cluster of schools, including arrangements that may span both primary and post-primary sectors. This approach allows HSCL resources to be targeted across schools based on identified need and the overall allocation model.

The DEIS Strategy to 2035 sets out a long-term vision to address educational disadvantage in all schools. Under Strategic Objective 2.2 the strategy sets out actions to develop an agile resource allocation model to support children and young people at risk of educational disadvantage in all primary and post-primary schools. These actions focus on the continued enhancement of the data available to measure school level disadvantage and for the development of a more flexible resource allocation model that can react to change in school needs and provide the right resources at the right time.

As part of the development of the DEIS Strategy to 2035, all schools qualifying for HSCL support were recently assessed using the most up-to-date data available to the department. This reassessment informed HSCL allocations for the 2026/27 school year.

Budget 2027 provides an additional €3 million from September 2027, rising to €9 million on a full-year basis from September 2028, to support a targeted expansion of the HSCL scheme for children and young people at risk of educational disadvantage. A detailed approach on the targeting of this additional funding is currently being developed.

Any future additional allocation of resources under the DEIS programme will be considered over the lifetime of the DEIS Strategy to 2035 and in the context of available resources.