DEIS Delivering Equality of Opportunity In Schools

The Department of Education and Youth is delighted to publish a DEIS Strategy to 2035 and new DEIS Plus scheme.

The DEIS Strategy to 2035 sets out the Department’s long-term vision to address educational disadvantage in all schools. It is accompanied by the first Implementation Plan covering the period of 2026-2028.

DEIS Plus is a key Programme for Government commitment aimed at reducing child poverty and improving outcomes for students in schools with the highest levels of need.

The Department of Education and Youth is pleased to publish the following reports which helped to inform the development of the DEIS Strategy to 2035 and DEIS Plus scheme. This included extensive consultation through workshops with teachers, school leaders and other education experts.

• Resourcing Schools to Address Educational Disadvantage Consultation Workshop Report H2 Learning
• Resourcing Schools to Address Educational Disadvantage Consultation Workshop Report Youth Advisory Groups and Young People
• Resourcing Schools to Address Educational Disadvantage Consultation Workshop Report School Completion Staff
• Resourcing Schools to Address Educational Disadvantage Consultation Workshop Report School Principals
• Resourcing Schools to Address Educational Disadvantage Consultation Workshop Report Primary and Post-Primary Teachers
• Resourcing Schools to Address Educational Disadvantage Consultation Workshop Report Home School Community Liaison Coordinators
• Resourcing Schools to Address Educational Disadvantage Consultation Workshop Report Children and Young People

The DEIS Plan 2017 sets out the department’s vision for education to more fully become a proven pathway to better opportunities for those in communities at risk of disadvantage and social exclusion.

Inspectorate Support for all DEIS schools

The inspectorate is committed to supporting DEIS schools through the provision of School Self Evaluation (SSE) advisory visits. These visits can be requested via the SSE website School Self Evaluation

Supports for DEIS Band 1 schools

• There are designated staffing schedules for DEIS Band 1 schools giving a class size of 17:1 in junior schools, 19:1 in vertical schools (schools with junior and senior classes) and 21:1 in senior schools Circular 0006/2023 Appendix A
• Administrative Principal are appointed on an enrolment of 113 pupils Circular 0006/2023 Appendix B
• Circular 0034/2023 (Delivering Equality of Opportunity In Schools) action planning and grant allocation for all DEIS schools
• Access to Home School Community Liaison Services (HSCL)
• Access to School Meals Programme
• Access to range of supports under School Completion Programme
• Access to literacy/numeracy support such as Reading Recovery, Maths Recovery, First Steps, Ready Set Go Maths
• Access to planning supports
• Access to a range of professional development supports through Oide, the new integrated support service for teachers and school leaders (formerly PDST, CSL, JCT and NIPT). www.oide.ie
• Parents' Information Notes - Band 1 Primary

Supports for DEIS Band 2 schools

• Administrative Principal are appointed on an enrolment of 136 pupils Circular 0006/2023 Appendix B
• Circular 0034/2023 (Delivering Equality of Opportunity In Schools) action planning and grant allocation for all DEIS schools
• Access to Home School Community Liaison Services (HSCL)
• Access to School Meals Programme
• Access to range of supports under School Completion Programme
• Access to literacy/numeracy support such as Reading Recovery, Maths Recovery, First Steps, Ready Set Go Maths
• Access to planning supports
• Access to a range of professional development supports through Oide, the new integrated support service for teachers and school leaders (formerly PDST, CSL, JCT and NIPT). www.oide.ie
• Parents' Information Notes - Band 2 Primary

Supports for DEIS Rural schools

• Circular 0034/2023 (Delivering Equality of Opportunity In Schools) action planning and grant allocation for all DEIS schools
• Access to School Meals Programme
• Access to planning supports
• Access to a range of professional development supports through Oide, the new integrated support service for teachers and school leaders (formerly PDST, CSL, JCT and NIPT). www.oide.ie
• Parents' Information Notes – Rural Primary

Supports for DEIS Post Primary schools

• Circular 0003/2023: Staffing arrangements in Voluntary Secondary Schools for the 2023/24 school year
• Circular 0002/2023: Staffing arrangements in Voluntary Secondary Schools for the 2023/24 school year
• Circular 0034/2023 (Delivering Equality of Opportunity In Schools) action planning and grant allocation for all DEIS schools
• Access to Home School Community Liaison Services (HSCL)
• Access to School Meals Programme
• Access to range of supports under School Completion Programme
• Access to planning supports
• Access to a range of professional development supports through Oide, the new integrated support service for teachers and school leaders (formerly PDST, CSL, JCT and NIPT). www.oide.ie
• Parents' Information Notes - Post-Primary

• Adapting and Managing Successful Transitions webinar
• Effective Literacy Strategies in Post Primary DEIS Schools Webinar

• OECD Review of resourcing schools to address educational disadvantage in Ireland and supporting documents
• The Refined DEIS identification model
• DEIS Identification Process 2017
• DEIS Plan 2017
• Report on the review of DEIS