Deis plan to emphasise retention of students up to Leaving Cert and beyond
A new government plan will focus on tackling rising absenteeism levels in schools and keeping more students from disadvantaged areas in education to Leaving Cert level and beyond.
On Tuesday, education minister Helen McEntee will publish a new Deis plan to focus on "improving the opportunities for children at risk of educational disadvantage".
It is understood that the plan will place a major emphasis on retention of students up to Leaving Certificate and improving progression rates to higher education and the world of work, as well as a major focus on school attendance and tackling the rate of absenteeism in both Deis and non-Deis schools.
Data from Tusla has shown a dramatic increase in absenteeism in recent years.
The latest figures, based on the 2022/23 school year, reveal that over 110,000 primary and 65,000 post-primary students missed 20 or more days during that academic year.
This compares to 54,890 primary school pupils and 44,874 post primary students missing 20 or more days before the covid pandemic in 2018/19.
There were higher rates of absence and also of student suspensions in Deis schools located in areas of economic disadvantage. In second-level Deis schools, 30.7% of students missed 20 days or more. This compares to 19.5% for non-Deis schools.
Ms McEntee will update Cabinet on her work to establish a new Deis+ scheme which will support schools with the highest level of educational disadvantage, particularly in the areas of literacy and numeracy.
This includes the establishment of an advisory group with representatives who work with children from areas of high inter-generational disadvantage.
'Dedicated focus' to small businesses
Cabinet will also be updated by arts and media minister Patrick O'Donovan on the digitisation of the 1926 census, the first census carried out by the State, while enterprise minister Peter Burke will bring a memo establishing a new small business unit within his department.
Government sources said that the unit will mean that small businesses have "a dedicated focus and are recognised and acknowledged across Government, and emphasis is placed on them within the Department of Enterprise".
Also at Cabinet, social protection minister Dara Calleary will provide an update on the procurement competition to source investment management providers for the automatic enrolment retirement savings system.
Mr Calleary will also update ministers on the recruitment for the positions of board members for National Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings Authority (NAERSA), which will oversee the "My Future Fund" that will launch on January 1, 2026, following a recent government decision to delay the scheme.
'Shared history'
Meanwhile, Cabinet is set to approve cross-government engagement with the trans-European cultural initiative, 2027 The Year of the Normans - People of Europe.
The year-long commemoration in 2027 aims to celebrate "a shared history that has shaped the island of Ireland and Europe".
A government statement says that "throughout modern Ireland, the legacy of our Norman heritage can be found in our lands, laws, monuments, and built environment".
Participation in the initiative "aims to commemorate and recognise our Norman history, whilst also benefiting tourism and its associated economy".
Ireland's participation is being co-ordinated by the National Monuments Service.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
3 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Over €1.2m secured for 15 Meath schools under Safe Routes to School Programme
The initiative aims to make it safer and easier for students to walk, cycle, or wheel to school, while also improving access to school grounds and increasing the availability of bicycle and scooter parking. Senator Linda Nelson Murray welcomed the announcement, saying: 'This would mean that children would be able to get to school in a safe way, whether that is by bicycle, bus or walking. This scheme is a no brainer and I want to see it back open.' She added: 'I would like to see the Safe Route to School Programme reintroduced as there are a lot of schools in Meath that did not get a chance to apply for the scheme.' 'Children are our future, they are our precious cargo so we need to get them to school safely.' Education Minister and Meath East TD Helen McEntee also welcomed the news in a social media post. She said: 'The scheme funds small and large-scale projects such as providing 'front of school' treatments to enhance access to the school grounds, accelerating delivery of walking, cycling, and wheeling infrastructure on key access routes to schools, and expanding the amount of cycle and scooter parking available at schools.' 'It is important that we support primary and post-primary students in accessing safer and healthier options for getting to school,' the minister added. The Safe Routes to School Programme is a collaborative effort coordinated by the SRTS Team at An Taisce, in partnership with the National Transport Authority (NTA) and local authorities. It is an initiative of the Department of Transport, supported by the Department of Education, and forms part of the National Development Plan 2021–2030. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
Irish Independent
3 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Two Mayo hotels will no longer house Ukrainian refugees
According to an email sent to elected representatives from the Department of Justice's Community Engagement Team, the 45-room hotel will stop providing accommodation to Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection. Hotel Newport, is also to stop providing accommodation for Ukrainian refugees in the coming months. Residents living in Hotel Newport (7) must vacate by July 31 while the 55 people living in Downhill Inn must relocate by August 29. Located on the Sligo Road in Ballina, The Downhill Inn was one of several Mayo properties that has accommodated Ukrainian refugees after Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. At one point, over 20pc of Mayo's tourism bed stock was being used to accommodate Ukrainian refugees or international protection applicants. The Department of Justice confirmed that the owners of the Downhill Inn and Hotel Newport have not expressed an interest in providing accommodation to people seeking international protection 'and the Department is not considering them for this use'. 'The need for accommodation for people affected by the war in Ukraine is reducing and this is expected to continue,' the Department said. 'Many people are choosing to move on from State-supported accommodation or are leaving Ireland. State accommodation contracts may also be ending where compliance issues arise, or where the owner chooses to end their contract. 'Because the Department must ensure value for money and an effective system overall, this means some people will be moved to other locations, if they still require State-contracted accommodation. Properties can then return to their original use.' The Department advised that given 'the number of moves that will take place over the next few weeks, and the dispersed nature of our available accommodation options, new accommodation may not be available in the same area'. Exceptional circumstances regarding provision of accommodation can be raised with the Department, which will consider 'HSE assessed medical need' when allocating follow-on accommodation. 'We appreciate that this is not easy for people and that moving location may be very disruptive. We need to provide the best we can for all those who came to Ireland fleeing the war in Ukraine, while balancing this with the requirement to make best possible use of State funds.' Across the country 12,000 beds returned to tourism from use by the Department of Children, Disability, Equality, Integration and Youth from May-November 2024.
Irish Independent
9 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Norma Foley begins talks with Attorney General on forcing religious orders to pay redress schemes
Ms Foley said her officials have now liaised with the Office of the Attorney General 'and will be engaging on the identification and legal analysis of potential mechanisms which may be available to the State'. The minister said the issue of forced financial contributions was 'complex work' and would take some time to complete. The broader impacts and implications of any 'potential mechanisms' identified would also have to be considered. The move raises at least the possibility of the sequestration of assets or the seizing or freezing of bank accounts. A recent RTÉ Investigates programme revealed how the Christian Brothers in Ireland had been rerouting their financial and asset holdings offshore – with the work carried out, in some cases, by persons against whom serious allegations have been made. The news comes days after the first excavation work was begun at the Tuam mother and baby home site, where it is claimed up to 796 babies' remains were buried. In April, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the Government would consider options it can take against religious orders that are 'within the law'. He was answering the Social Democrats party, which said the orders had been operating as 'criminal networks'. Only one religious order made a serious offer of restitution to government negotiator Sheila Nunan, who was asked to extract a cash commitment after the State paid compensation to victims in the first instance. Another made a tiny offer. Why are these orders not being raided by the gardaí? 'When is the State finally going to flex some legal muscle when it comes to these religious orders?' Social Democrats stand-in leader Cian O'Callaghan asked in the Dáil. 'Why are these orders not being raided by the gardaí? Why are their assets not being seized?' ADVERTISEMENT He said it was unbelievable that the approach of successive governments to these orders, 'which operated as criminal networks', was to 'roll over'. Religious orders made millions on the backs of 'enslaving' women and children and were now 'walking away without paying a penny', he said. This was because 'the Government is allowing them to run rings around you'. After receipt and publication of the report from Ms Nunan, Ms Foley made contact with each of the relevant religious organisations. Of eight organisations mentioned in the report, only two made offers of a voluntary contribution 'Of eight organisations mentioned in the report, only two made offers of a voluntary contribution to the Mother and Baby Homes Payment Scheme,' she said. 'My officials have initiated contact with representatives of those organisations to ensure that this matter moves forward without delay. 'With regard to the offer of a voluntary financial contribution, I can confirm that my officials have been in contact with representatives of this organisation and that this matter is progressing. 'Similarly, with regard to the offer from an organisation to transfer legal ownership of a property to the State, officials have commenced contact with relevant parties. 'With regard to those organisations who have not chosen to make a contribution to the payment scheme, I can confirm that I have written to them to express my disappointment at their approach and to express my belief that more could and should be done by them in terms of offering contributions. 'The purpose of my contact was also to invite each of them to reflect on the content of the Nunan Report and take that opportunity to make a meaningful contribution. 'My departmental officials have been, and remain, at all times available to engage with these organisations in the event that they are willing to take up this invitation and make a meaningful contribution.' In the meantime, the minister has consulted the Attorney General to examine ways in which the cash can be obtained without their consent, she indicated. Mr Martin in April said current law meant that 'we simply can't just go in and raid people'. There had to be legality for whatever Government does, he added. Former children's minister Roderic O'Gorman first wrote to the orders early in the last government 'saying they may wish to consider making a financial contribution to redress costs'. In May 2023, the government appointed former trade union official Ms Nunan to negotiate with the orders. She was told to come back with their best and final offers within six months. Nearly two years later, Ms Nunan filed her final report stating just one order had made a serious offer of cash to pay redress. These are religious orders that own assets worth hundreds of millions Mr O'Callaghan said: 'We know these orders would much prefer to pay their armies of lawyers than the women and children that they tortured and abused. These are religious orders that own assets worth hundreds of millions.'
