DEIS schools in Galway City overlooked for STEM learning grants

Schools in the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) programme in Galway City have been overlooked for learning grants in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) from the Department of Education. TD Mairéad Farrell interrogated Minister for Education Norma Foley about the matter at the Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science on 31 January. 

In her question to the Minister, Deputy Farrell said she had been contacted by several principles expressing their concerns and referred to a letter from one that noted the education gap would continue should DEIS schools not be considered for this funding. 

Minister Foley referred to the high volume of applications received for the €1.5m allocated for STEM funding. She pointed out that had all applications been successful it would have cost the Department of Education €25m. 

“DEIS schools already receive considerable additional supports in comparison with non-DEIS schools……The spend on DEIS was more than €180 million in 2023”, said the Minister for Education. 

DEIS was introduced in 2005 to tackle educational disadvantage. Roughly 30 per cent of Irish schools are part of the DEIS programme. The STEM learning grants are determined by a lottery system due to the considerable number of schools that apply.  

“It was fair insofar as no favoritism was shown to one school above another,” said Minister Foley when referring to the lottery process. She assured the committee that it is her intent to make further funding available for schools in 2024.  

Deputy Farrell pointed out that vital funding should not be decided by a lottery programme and the government should support the education of all children regardless of the school they attend.