Kildare falls below national average for disadvantage supports as €48m education plan unveiled
A new €48 million plan to tackle educational disadvantage has been announced by Education Minister Hildegarde Naughton, but figures show Kildare will not receive any of the highest-tier supports under the scheme.
The Government says the new DEIS Strategy to 2035 and DEIS Plus programme will deliver more than 400 additional education roles and expand supports to hundreds of schools nationwide.
However, in Kildare, none of the county’s schools have been selected for the new DEIS Plus scheme, which targets those with the highest levels of disadvantage.
Nationally, 121 schools will benefit from DEIS Plus supports, including 96 primary and 25 post-primary schools.
In contrast, Kildare has 15 primary schools and 7 secondary schools included in the broader DEIS programme — a relatively modest share compared to the national picture.
Across the country, there are 953 DEIS primary schools out of more than 3,000, while 232 post-primary schools are included at second level.
Dublin accounts for the largest concentration, with 63 primary and 17 post-primary schools in the DEIS Plus category alone.
Neighbouring counties have also secured places in the highest tier, including Louth with six primary and one post-primary DEIS Plus schools.
The plan also includes an expansion of Home School Community Liaison supports, but again Kildare’s increase is limited.
Just 3% of schools in the county will gain additional HSCL support under the new measures, compared to a national average of 10%.
Overall, 14% of schools in Kildare will have HSCL support after the expansion — significantly below the national figure of 22%.
The Department of Education says the DEIS Plus schools were selected using a new data-driven model focused on “concentrated and persistent disadvantage” over a three-year period.
Minister Naughton says the strategy is designed to ensure supports reach those most in need.
“These measures ensure that we are targeting resources where they are needed the most and support schools to make a real and lasting difference.”
The ten-year strategy aims to improve attendance, wellbeing and progression to further education, with increased funding, additional teachers and expanded student supports forming part of the plan.
No school currently receiving DEIS supports will lose funding under the changes.
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