Key takeaway
Ireland has free primary and secondary education. Enrolment is managed by individual schools — contact them directly. A PPS number is required to enrol.
Key things to know
- Education is free and compulsory for children aged 6–16 (most start at 4–5).
- Each school sets its own enrolment policy — there is no central application system.
- A PPS number for your child is required to enrol.
- Schools are a mix of Catholic, multi-denominational, and non-denominational — check the ethos before applying.
- If your child is an English language learner, they may be entitled to English Language Support (ELS) in school.
The Irish School System
Ireland's education system is divided into:
- Primary school (Junior Infants to 6th Class): Ages approximately 4–12. Most children start in Junior Infants at age 4 or 5. Free and compulsory.
- Secondary school (1st Year to 6th Year): Ages approximately 12–18. Culminates in the Leaving Certificate exam, which determines entry to third-level education. Free.
- Third level: Universities, institutes of technology, and colleges of further education. EU/EEA students pay subsidised fees (free fees scheme); non-EEA students pay full international fees.
Finding a School
Use the Find a School tool on gov.ie to locate primary and secondary schools near you. In Ireland, schools are generally managed by religious bodies (most commonly Catholic), but there are also:
- Educate Together schools — multi-denominational, child-centred ethos
- Gaelscoileanna — Irish-language medium schools (all subjects taught through Irish)
- Community National Schools (CNS) — multi-faith, State-run
- Educate Together Secondary Schools — multi-denominational second level
How to Enrol
- Contact the school directly to ask about places and their enrolment process
- Complete the school's application form
- Provide your child's PPS number, birth certificate, and any previous school records
- If offered a place, confirm acceptance within the deadline
Popular schools in urban areas can be heavily oversubscribed — apply to several and as early as possible.
English Language Support
Children who are English language learners are entitled to English Language Support (ELS) teaching in school. Schools receive additional teaching hours based on the number of ELS-eligible pupils. Inform the school of your child's language background during enrolment — this is important for resource allocation.
Free Books Scheme
The Free Books Scheme (introduced in 2023) provides free schoolbooks to all primary school pupils in recognised schools. Secondary schools also benefit from a state subsidy for booklist costs.
School Transport
Bus Éireann operates a school transport scheme for eligible pupils who live more than 3.2km from their nearest school. Apply through the Bus Éireann school transport website. Priority is given to pupils with medical card holders.
Sources: gov.ie, citizensinformation.ie, tusla.ie
General guidance only. Always verify with official sources — gov.ie, citizensinformation.ie, hse.ie.