Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) is the main policy initiative of my Department to address educational disadvantage at school level. My Department will spend in the region of €125 million in 2020 on the DEIS Programme.
Under Budget 2021 I have announced a general reduction in the mainstream staffing schedule to 25:1. Each 1 point adjustment to the primary staffing schedule is estimated to cost in the region of €4.7m in the first year and €14.4m for the full year. The cost of a similar adjustment to the staffing schedule in Urban Band 1 schools is estimated to cost in the region of €2.8 million for the full year.