Over 120 of Ireland's most disadvantaged schools are to receive a range of additional supports, including more than 400 additional staff under a new DEIS Plus scheme, which is to be rolled out from this coming September.
Promised under the Programme for Government, 96 primary schools and 25 post-primary schools, all situated in urban areas will benefit from the plan.
Measures include an additional 350 teachers across the 121 schools, with roles targeted at strengthening schools’ capacity to support students at risk.
The schools have been identified using a new data-driven identification model to maximise impact. This follows a recent OECD report into Ireland’s DEIS system, which recommended a more data-driven approach.
Further details of the DEIS Plus plan will be announced later this morning, along with a wider ten-year strategy for all DEIS schools.
The wider strategy will see DEIS grant funding increased for 371 primary and 82 post-primary schools.
A spokesperson described the additional €48 million allocated to the DEIS Plus scheme and the DEIS strategy as "a significant step up in addressing educational inequality across Ireland".
