Disadvantaged Status

Tuesday, 20 January 2026

Questions (579, 580, 581, 582)

Darren O'Rourke

Question:

579. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the rollout of the DEIS Plus plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4406/26]

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580. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide a list of school’s that will be designated as DEIS Plus under the new DEIS Plus Plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4407/26]

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Darren O'Rourke

Question:

581. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will outline the criteria to access the DEIS Plus plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4408/26]

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Darren O'Rourke

Question:

582. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of DEIS schools nationwide that are expected to be included in the DEIS Plus scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4409/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Education and Youth

I propose to take Questions Nos. 579, 580, 581 and 582 together.

Tackling educational disadvantage and helping students reach their full potential is a key priority for me as Minister for Education and Youth, and for the Government.

Currently, the DEIS programme supports almost 1,200 primary and post-primary schools, reaching approximately 260,000 students, with an annual investment of over €180 million. Budget 2026 allocates an additional €16.5 million in 2026, rising to €48 million in 2027, to support the implementation of the new DEIS Strategy and introduce the DEIS Plus scheme, which will commence in 2026.

A new DEIS Strategy, which will include the DEIS Plus scheme, will be published in Q1 2026. The DEIS Plus scheme will provide additional support to schools with the highest levels of need, in line with the Government’s commitment. It will target a cohort of schools with high concentrations of children and young people experiencing intergenerational disadvantage where there is a significant gap in outcomes and there are barriers to those children and young people achieving their potential.

Schools will not be required to apply for inclusion in the DEIS Plus scheme. The process to identify schools for inclusion will be evidence-informed, using available data.

The details of the DEIS Plus scheme are currently being finalised within an overall programme of work to tackle educational disadvantage and will be outlined in the new DEIS Strategy.

Future allocation of overall resources will be considered within the context of the new DEIS Strategy and the availability of resources.

Question No. 580 answered with Question No. 579.

Question No. 581 answered with Question No. 579.

Question No. 582 answered with Question No. 579.