What DEIS means for a primary school
DEIS explained: how schools are chosen, the difference between Urban Band 1, Band 2 and Rural, and the extra supports DEIS schools get.
Updated 5 October 2026
DEIS stands for Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools. It's the Department of Education's main programme for schools serving communities at the greatest risk of educational disadvantage. Schools don't apply; they're identified using census-based deprivation data and information about the families they serve.
The three groups
- Urban Band 1: urban schools with the highest level of disadvantage, and the most support.
- Urban Band 2: urban schools with a lower level of disadvantage.
- Rural: schools in rural areas serving disadvantaged communities.
What extra support DEIS schools get
- Extra teaching posts and smaller classes, mainly in Urban Band 1 schools
- A Home School Community Liaison coordinator who works with families
- The School Completion Programme
- School meals and a higher DEIS grant
- Priority for teacher training and planning support
Around 1,200 schools are in DEIS, with roughly a quarter of a million pupils. The programme last grew in 2022, when 322 schools joined. In 2026 the Department announced DEIS Plus, with extra wellbeing and guidance supports for 121 schools with the highest needs, rolling out from September 2026.
Does DEIS say anything about a school's quality?
No. DEIS reflects the community a school serves, not how good it is. DEIS schools often have more staff and supports than similar schools outside the programme.
On every school page we show whether it's in DEIS. Find DEIS schools near you.
Sources
- gov.ie: Extension of DEIS to further schools
- Department of Education: DEIS parents' information note
- RTÉ: New DEIS Plus supports announced (March 2026)
Rules and rates change. Check the official source before you rely on a detail, and tell us at [email protected] if something's out of date.