166. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to increase the numbers of DEIS+ schools in Limerick. [74850/26]

Addressing educational disadvantage and ensuring that every child and young person can reach their full potential is a key priority for me as Minister for Education and Youth and for the Government. Overall, approximately €230 million is invested in the DEIS programme. This includes the additional €48 million secured under Budget 2026 to support the implementation of the DEIS Strategy to 2035 and the introduction of the DEIS Plus scheme. Budget 2027 provides a further €6 million to support the expansion of DEIS Plus.

DEIS Plus is designed to provide enhanced, evidence-based supports to a small cohort of schools with the highest concentrations of children and young people at risk of educational disadvantage. Schools in the scheme will receive strengthened, research-informed supports across wellbeing, attendance, engagement, guidance, leadership capacity, community partnerships and access to services, including a new positive mental health and wellbeing initiative to support a whole-school approach to student wellbeing.

Schools were identified for inclusion in DEIS Plus through a nationally consistent, evidence-based identification model which drew on a range of indicators associated with persistent and intergenerational disadvantage. The model was applied uniformly across all eligible schools to ensure a fair and objective process.

The expansion of the DEIS Plus scheme will be considered in the context of the DEIS Strategy to 2035, with schools identified for supports using the evidence-based identification model.