Minister Naughton Announces Funding for Free Period Products for Schools in the DEIS Plus Scheme

Notes to editors

Background

In 2025, under Ensuring our education system works for all’, the Programme for Government committed to: “Provide free period products in schools to ensure no student is held back due to period poverty”. 

The DEIS Plus scheme announced by the Minister in March 2026 included an allocation of €100,000 to provide free period products to schools participating in the scheme during the 2026/2027 school year.

Consultation findings

A total of 47 students aged 12 to 19, along with teachers and principals from DEIS, DEIS Plus and non-DEIS schools, participated in consultations on how best to make period products available in schools.

The consultation found overwhelming support among students for the introduction of free period products in schools. Many highlighted the rising cost of products and the challenges posed by unpredictable periods.

The research highlighted concerns about the increasing cost of period products, with students reporting that quality products can be unaffordable for many young people and families.

The consultations also brought into sharp focus the issue of period poverty, particularly in DEIS and DEIS Plus schools. Students and school staff described situations where families struggling with poverty, homelessness and financial hardship found it difficult to afford essential menstrual health products.

Students shared powerful accounts of the challenges faced by their peers:

"Not everyone has enough money at home to buy period products."

Teachers echoed these concerns, highlighting the stigma that can surround period poverty and the difficult choices some families face.

One teacher observed:

"There can be a lot of shame attached to girls not being able to afford period products. It's linked to poverty and homelessness. It might be a choice between food and period products for some parents."

The consultations also provided valuable insights into how the scheme should operate. Students emphasised the importance of offering a choice of products, including sanitary pads and tampons, and stressed that product quality matters. They recommended that products be made available discreetly in bathrooms and other accessible locations and that schools provide clear information so students know where products can be found.

Grant Payments

A grant will be paid to schools annually by the department. The grant payment will be issued directly to relevant schools in the DEIS Plus scheme to support implementation of the initiative from the beginning of the 2026/27 school year. Prior to payment, all schools will receive a communication outlining the details of their allocation.

For schools in the Education and Training Board (ETB) sector, the grant payment will issue to the ETB, which is then responsible for contacting the relevant schools within its remit.

Guidance for Schools

The department has developed Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and implementation guidance which will also be circulated to schools in advance of grant payments issuing.

The guidance covers:

• The purpose and objectives of the funding;
• Procurement options and purchasing arrangements;
• Recommended implementation approaches;
• Key safety considerations; and
• Awareness-raising and communication supports.

Funding Allocations

Funding allocations have been calculated based on the number of students in each school who, based on age, are likely to have started their period. For primary schools, this was calculated using figures for students in fourth class and above.

The grant funding is intended to cover the cost of purchasing period products for eligible students and to support schools in making them available in an accessible and appropriate manner.