Learning tools....Blarney Street NS pupils, twin brothers Sean and Ryan Nash, Joshua Ferrerira Beadle and Colin Buckley try some maths problems. Pic: Larry Cummins. Ref John Bohane The Echo. The School Excellence Fund-DEIS (SEF-DEIS) is an innovation of the Department of Education and Skills which enables schools to apply for funding to implement innovative programmes which are context-specific and aimed at improving learning outcomes. The project has a three-year life span. The Department of Education & Skills is delighted to welcome this cross-sectoral cluster of schools on the North Side of Cork city to the project and looks forward to working closely with them over the three years to promote and support collaboration, innovation and learning in the area of Mathematics.