The Education Minister is "absolutely determined" to "close the gap" between Deis and non-Deis schools in new Deis plus plan, she said.

Miniser Helen McEntee has announced that a new programme to tackle educational disadvantage and chronic school absenteeism is coming.

This programme will include the introduction of a new Deis plus scheme as well as new initiatives and the development of a new Deis action plan.

This plan incorporates a number of recommendations from a recent Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) review into the current Deis scheme published last summer.

The Department’s new plan focuses on improving opportunities and achievement levels of children at risk of educational disadvantage, meanwhile working towards a more flexible system of supports for schools.

This news comes as the number of chronic absences from school has more than doubled since the COVID-19 pandemic.

On The Hard Shoulder, Minister McEntee said since being appointed to the Department of Education, she has said “very clearly” she wants to do more for young people who come from areas of disadvantage - particularly in school.

“We have a Deis programme at the moment which supports young people in education, where they come from particularly disadvantaged backgrounds,” she said.

“So, since being appointed to the Department of Education, I have said very clearly that I wanted to do more for young people who come from areas of disadvantage, particularly in school.

“So, I'm saying very clearly this year I’ll publish a new Deis plan - I want to make sure we close the gap between Deis schools and non-Deis schools.

“So even though there's been a lot of investment, a lot of extra support and resources given to certain schools, there's still a gap between what a young person in a non-Deis and a Deis school achieves and how they progress in life.”

Helen McEntee in the Newstalk studio.

Minister McEntee said it’s obvious that certain areas within schools need more support.

“So, children might need psychological supports, they might need better focus on their well-being, what's happening outside of school, as well as making sure we have reduced class sizes, increased investment and other innovative ways to help young people who might be struggling,” she said.

“In the plan, what I want to make sure is that we tackle the issue of absenteeism.

“You might say, well, that's a problem that impacts on every school, and it does, and in particular, post COVID, we've seen the increased rates of absenteeism, you know, grow even faster, but particular in areas of disadvantage.

“So, this is about making sure that the resources that I put in as Minister for Education, that they're targeted to those who need it most, that more young people can benefit from it - but in particular, that we close the gap that currently exists.”

Unoccupied school classroom. Image: Alamy

Minister McEntee said she is “absolutely determined” that every child is supported to fulfil their potential.

“If you look at international studies or international comparisons, Ireland compares very well - whether it comes to literacy and numeracy, whether it comes to somebody moving on to work or further and higher education,” she said.

“But there's more we need to do - there's still a gap there, and part of the plan as well is to make sure that we have greater connections between our post primary schools in particular and a person moving on to further and higher education or work.

“Because again, that gap still exists where younger people from areas of disadvantage are less likely to move on to further and higher education or find it harder to get into work."

Empty classroom at Springfield Primary School in Belfast as primary 1 through to 3 children return to school. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Minister McEntee said there's a lot of targeted measures she feels the Department could focus on that would make a big difference to "what might seem like a smaller cohort of people".

"But when we talk about every young person being supported to fulfil and achieve their full potential, that means some children need just that little bit more, and I'm absolutely determined that they'll get that," she said.

Speaking briefly about the €9 million set aside for phone pouches in schools, Minister McEntee said she will support anything that protects young people’s mental health.

Listen back here:

Minister Helen McEntee speaking to the media at Government Buildings, 7-8-24. Image: Leah Farrell / © RollingNews.ie