Irish encourage children to realise their potential as individuals and to live their lives to the fullest capacity appropriate to their particular stages of development. There is no pressure and formal examination in primary schools. The subjects children learn are mathematics, environmental, scientific, arts and languages, personal, social, health and physical development.

To be able to send your child to the school of your choice you have to know that there are a few types of primary schools in Ireland: state-funded primary schools, special schools and private primary schools. State funded schools include religious schools, non-denominational schools, multi-denominational schools and Gaelscoileanna.

You may find some difficulties to enrol your child in a  primary school, because of a lack of choice in the area in which you live. Each school operates an admissions policy, which they must make available on request. State-funded primary schools are free and tend to give priority to children living in the immediate area, but problems can arise if their classes are already full and they have a waiting list. Multi-denominational schools, non-denominational schools and Gaelscoileanna each decide their own admissions policy. All you have to do is to be patient, apply directly to the school of your choice, ask for their admissions policy, check whether you need to register your child's name on a waiting list and make sure that the child’s place is pre-booked.  

If you wish to bring into Ireland older children, you’ll have another challenge: secondary school. The secondary schools comprise  secondary, vocational, community and comprehensive schools. They can be  all girls, all boys or mixed sex schools. Over fifty Irish secondary schools provide boarding facilities and many of these have a strong tradition of enrolling students from abroad. In addition, a number of English language schools and private agencies assist overseas students at second level with application formalities and with finding home-stay or other accommodation. Vocational schools and community colleges educate over 29 per cent of all second level students. The main thrust of these schools was directed towards the development of manual skills and preparation of young people for trades, adult and community education courses. Comprehensive schools combine academic and vocational subjects in a wide curriculum.

Second level education in Ireland generally starts at the age of twelve and consists of a three-year Junior cycle followed by a two- or three-year senior cycle. The Junior Certificate Examination is taken at the end of the junior cycle. The senior cycle offers a “Transition Year” which provides an opportunity for students to experience a wide range of educational inputs, life skills and work experience at a remove from the examination focus. “Transition Year” is often advised to be taken by foreign students. Children must take a minimum of five subjects including the three core subjects of English, Irish and Mathematics. Students can then choose their other subjects from a broad range including arts, languages, science and other applied subjects. If a child is entering the Irish education system after 11 years of age he or she is not obliged to take Irish language examinations. At the end of the senior cycle at seventeen or eighteen years of age the Leaving Certificate Examination is taken.  
 
Department of Education and Science
Marlborough Street, Dublin 1
Tel:+353-1-8896400
Website: www.education.ie
Email: info@education.gov.ie