Skip to main content
European Commission logo
EACEA National Policies Platform:Eurydice
Statistics on educational institutions
Ireland

Ireland

2.Organisation and governance

2.8Statistics on educational institutions

Last update: 27 November 2023

This section provides the most recent available data on the number of educational institutions from pre-primary to post-secondary non-tertiary education level (ISCED levels 0-4). Statistics on numbers and characteristics of higher education institutions can be found in the European Tertiary Education Register. A general overview of the categories of institutions providing publicly-subsidised adult education and training can be found in the chapter on adult education. The notes below the tables provide methodological explanations necessary for a good interpretation of data.

Statistics on educational institutions providing regular education

Type of educational institution in English (and in national language)

ISCED levels provided Main orientation of the programmes provided​ Number of educational institutions

Total

Public Government-dependent private Private independent

Early Childhood Education and Care providers

0 (-) 4196 4196 (:) (:)

Primary Schools

1 (-) 3106 3160 (:) (:)

Secondary Schools

2,3,4 G 378 378 (:) (:)

Vocational Schools

2,3,4 V 248 248 (:) (:)

Community and Comprehensive Schools

2,3,4 G 96 96 (:) (:)

Source:

Department of Education and Skills: Key Statistics 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 (last accessed 16/10/2019)

ISCED= International Standard Classification of Education

G= General V= Vocational
(:) Data not available (-) Not applicable

Terminology

The 2018 version of the UNESCO/OECD/Eurostat Manual on concepts, definitions and classification can be consulted for the definitions of regular education (p.10); general and vocational programmes of education (p.19); as well as public institution, government-dependent private institution and private independent institution (pp. 24-26)

Notes

In Ireland, all post-primary schools provide ISCED levels 2 and 3, with some providing level 4.

The Department of Education and Skills only recognises schools that deliver the Irish curriculum and whose teachers are registered with the Teaching Council. The Irish Government does not fund any private schools in Ireland, nor does it collect any data on same.

Please note that the legal entity approach was used in collecting the above data.

 

Statistics on separate educational institutions providing special needs education

Type of educational institution in English and (in national language) ISCED levels provided Main orientation of the programmes provided​ Number of educational institutions

Total

Public Government-dependent institutions Private independent
Special Schools 1,2 G 134 134 (:)

(:)

Source:

Department of Education and Skills: Key Statistics 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 (last accessed 16/10/2019)

ISCED= International Standard Classification of Education

G= General V= Vocational
(:) Data not available (-) Not applicable

Terminology

The 2018 version of the Unesco/OECD/Eurostat Manual on concepts, definitions and classification can be consulted for the definitions of regular education (p.10); general and vocational programmes of education (p.19); as well as public institution, government-dependent private institution and private independent institution (pp. 24-26).

Notes

The Department of Education and Skills provides for the education of children with special education needs through a number of support mechanisms depending on the child’s assessed disability. While the Department's policy is to ensure the maximum possible integration of children with special needs into ordinary mainstream schools, students who have been assessed as having special educational needs have access to a range of special support services. The services range from special schools dedicated to particular disability groups, through special classes/units attached to ordinary schools, to placement on an integrated basis in ordinary schools with supports.

The Department of Education and Skills only recognises schools that deliver the Irish curriculum and whose teachers are registered with the Teaching Council. The Irish Government does not fund any private schools in Ireland, nor does it collect any data on same.

Please note that the legal entity approach was used in collecting the above data.