Press Releases

Published date: 03 Mar 2025

DEIS Plus Programme Positive Step by Government to Address the Trauma of Poverty on Children’s Education

The Children’s Rights Alliance welcomes the announcement today (03.03.2025) of a new ‘DEIS-Plus’ programme for schools in areas with the highest concentration of deprivation and poverty.

Speaking in response to the new programme, Chief Executive of the Children’s Rights Alliance, Tanya Ward said:

“The DEIS Programme has been instrumental in steering our education system to better support children and young people who experience poverty. Through the DEIS programmes in schools, children benefit from staff’s increased capacity with lower teacher-student ratios, they can access literacy and numeracy supports that help level the playing field with their peers. The DEIS programme also provides for Home School Community Liaison Coordinators who are an essential link between a child, their family and their school.  Make no mistake, for children growing up in the deepest poverty, access to these supports can transform their lives and change the trajectory of their future.”

“As impactful as the DEIS programme is, its capacity does not stretch far enough or reach deep enough to support children who are more at risk due to the deep-rooted intergenerational poverty, unemployment and violence that some communities experience on their doorsteps.  For children growing up in these communities, even getting to the school door is far from a simple task. They could be attending school in shoes or a uniform that is far too tight because there is no alternative. They could be coming to school hungry or going home fearful of the violence or crime that comes out at night.”

“These children are experiencing trauma over and above what any child should be exposed to, and system currently does not have the capacity to meet these acute needs. Extra supports, such therapists and counsellors, are essential to help children to engage in education fully,” continued Tanya Ward. “DEIS schools in communities’ who experience this high level of poverty have been crying out for further funding and resources. The introduction of a ‘DEIS-Plus’ programme that would enable these school communities to provide a blanket of wraparound supports for these children’s health, emotional wellbeing and education. Today’s announcement is a positive indicator of a more child-centred approach to the provision of educational supports for those who need it the most.”

“To see the Government acting on this commitment early in its term is very positive. In the last few years, we have seen enormous strides in addressing the financial barriers, we need to see the same drive and budget back-up to addressing the trauma poverty pushes on young children. Schools are a fantastic place to start as the heartbeat of many of these communities, with increased funding and supports, they can become a safe haven for these children where they can get a hot meal, therapeutic supports, counselling and psychological supports, literacy and numeracy programmes and Home School Liaison Coordinators that all work in tandem to actively break that cycle of poverty. It will be vitally important that the Department engage with the principals and the school leaders that make up this circle of support, who know and best understand the specific needs of the children they support, to shape this new scheme to ensure it delivers the impact these children and communities need it to.”

 

 

_ENDS_ 

For more information/interviews contact:

Robyn at [email protected] or 085 800 1275 /
Emma at [email protected] / 087 997 1410

 

Notes to Editors:

• Children’s Rights Alliance spokespeople are available for interview.
• Child Poverty Monitor 2024 is available here.