DEIS schools receive extra government resources to support pupils from disadvantaged communities. Here's what it means in practice — and what it means for your child.
🔍 Find DEIS schools near youDEIS stands for Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools. It is a programme run by the Irish Department of Education that provides additional resources and support to schools serving communities with high levels of socioeconomic disadvantage.
The programme was launched in 2005 and has expanded significantly since then. As of 2025, there are around 1,200 DEIS schools across Ireland — roughly one in three schools in the country — serving over 240,000 pupils.
In plain English: DEIS is a government stamp that tells you a school is in an area of disadvantage and receives extra funding, smaller class sizes, and additional support staff as a result.
Schools are assessed for DEIS status using a detailed model developed by the Educational Research Centre (ERC). The assessment looks at a range of factors drawn from school enrolment data and Census information, including:
Schools are reviewed periodically and can gain or lose DEIS status as the demographics of their communities change. The most recent expansion of the programme in 2022 added around 320 new schools.
DEIS schools are categorised into three bands, which determine the level of support they receive:
Urban Band 1 schools are in the most disadvantaged urban communities and receive the highest level of support, including the lowest pupil-teacher ratios. Urban Band 2 schools are in moderately disadvantaged urban areas and receive slightly less intensive support. Rural DEIS schools are in disadvantaged rural communities and receive a tailored package of supports.
DEIS status comes with a significant package of additional resources. The supports vary by band but typically include:
The School Meals Programme is one of the most tangible benefits for families. In DEIS schools, children typically receive a free hot lunch or breakfast at no cost to parents — a significant saving for many families.
This is one of the most common questions parents ask — and the honest answer is: DEIS status tells you about a school's community, not its quality.
Many DEIS schools are excellent. They often have highly committed, experienced teachers who choose to work in these environments, strong community relationships, and a genuine sense of purpose. The additional resources they receive can make a real difference to outcomes for pupils.
The Department of Education's inspection reports — which you can view on each school's profile on Schoolfinder.ie — are a far better guide to a school's quality than DEIS status alone. A DEIS school with an "Excellent" inspection rating is, by any measure, an excellent school.
What DEIS does tell you: The school serves a community with socioeconomic challenges. This may mean a more diverse student body, a stronger focus on pastoral care, and additional supports that all pupils in the school benefit from — regardless of their own background.
"DEIS schools are worse schools."
DEIS status reflects the socioeconomic profile of a school's community, not its academic quality or teaching standards. Many DEIS schools receive very positive inspection reports and achieve strong outcomes for their pupils.
"Only children from disadvantaged families benefit from DEIS schools."
All pupils in a DEIS school benefit from the additional resources — smaller classes, school meals, extra literacy support, and more. A child from any background who attends a DEIS school benefits from these supports.
"DEIS schools are only in disadvantaged urban areas."
There is a specific Rural DEIS category for schools in disadvantaged rural communities. DEIS schools exist in every county in Ireland, including many areas that would not be considered traditionally disadvantaged.
"Once a school gets DEIS status, it keeps it forever."
DEIS status is reviewed periodically. Schools can gain or lose DEIS status as the demographics of their communities change over time.
On Schoolfinder.ie, DEIS status is shown on every school profile. When you search by Eircode, you can see at a glance which of your nearest schools are DEIS schools — and read their most recent inspection reports to get a sense of the quality of education they provide.
DEIS status is particularly worth noting if you are looking for a school with strong pastoral care, additional literacy support, or a school meals programme for your child.
Search by Eircode to see your nearest primary and secondary schools, with DEIS status and inspection reports for each.
Search on Schoolfinder.ie →