Investing in Ireland

Education

Ireland’s education system is amongst the best in the world. It ranks in the top 10 globally as an education system that meets the needs of a competitive economy. Ireland is currently implementing a comprehensive and forward looking National Skills Strategy and Action Plan for Education, which aims to make Irish education and training the best in Europe by 2026.

• Ireland has one of the most educated workforces in the world
• The share of 30-34 year olds in Ireland with a third level qualification is 53.5%, compared to an EU average of 40%
• Almost 30% of students enrolled in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) courses
• Proportionally Ireland has the 4th highest international workforce in the EU
• Companies operating in Ireland have access to a labour pool of almost 250m people from across the EU
• Ireland ranks 1st globally for attracting and retaining international talent
• eurHQ works in close consultation with the relevant Irish authorities on employment permit and visa matters
• Companies recruiting from outside the EU can avail of streamlined employment permit applications under the Trusted Partner Initiative

 

Overview

Education is now regarded as a central plank in the economic, social and cultural development of Irish society. Governments and the social partners view it as strategically interlinked with national planning. There is a high level of public interest in educational issues, which has been further developed by the consultative approach adopted by the Government in the formulation of education policy. Irish pupils perform in the top sectors in international studies such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) PISA evaluations. Employers, both national and international, affirm the quality of graduates from the Irish education system.

Primary Education

Education in Ireland is compulsory from age 6 to 16 or until students have completed three years of second level (post-primary) education. While there is no national provision for pre-schooling in Ireland, first level schools accept children on or after their fourth birthday. The typical first level school enrols pupils by age into eight year-groups or classes, ranging from junior infants to sixth class. The vast majority of schools are State funded, privately owned “all-through” schools, catering for pupils from 4 to 12 years of age. The curriculum followed is a child-centred one and it allows for flexibility in timetabling and teaching methods.

Second Level Education

The great majority of pupils transfer to second level school when they have completed the full first level course – generally at about 12 years of age. For registration in a second level school, students must be aged 12 on 1 January in the first year of attendance. The second level education sector comprises secondary, vocational, community and comprehensive schools. While each category of school evolved from a distinctive historical context, and have different ownership and management structures, they have a great deal in common. They are largely State funded and follow the same State prescribed curriculum and take the same State public examinations.
The second level school span is predominantly a six-year cycle, taken by ages 12 to 18. The terminology of “lower secondary” and “upper secondary” is not used in Ireland, but the terms “Junior Cycle” and “Senior Cycle” are commonly used.

Apart from internal school tests, there are two key public examinations taken by students – the Junior Certificate (age 15/16) and the Leaving Certificate (age 17/18). These are external examinations set by the State Examinations Commission. A great deal of public attention is focused on the Leaving Certificate Examination as entry to third level education is closely linked to the results achieved by students at this examination.

Third Level Education

Third level education in Ireland is provided mainly by universities, institutes of technology and colleges of education. In addition, a number of other third level institutions provide specialist education in a number of professions such as medicine and law. Most third level education institutions are supported very substantially by the State.

Irish universities are autonomous and self-governing and offer degree programmes at bachelor, masters and doctorate level. The more established universities include Trinity College Dublin, Dublin City University, University College Dublin, Maynooth University, University College Cork, University of Limerick and National University of Ireland Galway. In addition there are a number of private medical colleges such as the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin.

The technological sector includes technological universities (TUs) and institutes of technology (ITs) which provide programmes of education and training in areas such as business, science, engineering, linguistics and music to certificate, diploma and degree levels. The Department of Education and Skills has overall responsibility for the sector. The Technological Universities Act 2018 allows institutes of technology to apply to become a new type of higher education institution with technological university status.
The colleges of education specialise in training for primary school teachers. Training for post-primary teachers is provided by a number of third-level institutions. In addition, there are colleges of education that specialise in the training of home economics teachers, teachers of religion and physical education teachers.