Major expansion of Deis school programme announced

Education Minister Norma Foley: 'This investment will provide for in the region of 160 additional primary teaching posts, approximately 100 additional home school community liaison posts, additional guidance and leadership posts as well as Deis grants and enhanced book grant funding.'

A €32m expansion of the Deis schools programme will see 60,000 more students benefit from targeted supports to address educational disadvantage, including students from 11 Cork schools newly added to the programme.

Education Minister Norma Foley announced on Wednesday a major expansion of the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (Deis) programme for the first time since 2017, extending to 310 schools across the country for the first time, and providing increased supports to 37 existing Deis schools.