Irish Primary School Enrolments to Decline, Post-Primary from 2026

The Department of Education projects a significant decline in primary school enrolments over the next decade, while first-year student numbers in second-level schools have already begun to fall. However, the department noted potential for significant local and regional variations, citing new residential developments around Dublin as drivers of higher demand in specific areas.

Spare capacity at both primary and second levels is being targeted for special education, where demand is growing. Nationally, post-primary enrolments are expected to decline from 2026, though first-year enrolments have already decreased. The department emphasizes efficient use of existing accommodation, with 80 percent of new special classes for 2025/26 established in repurposed classrooms.

School place pressures are often due to «school-of-choice» factors, not a lack of capacity. For the 2024/25 academic year, unfilled first-year places were available in every county and 83 percent of 314 school planning areas at post-primary level. For instance, 38 of 40 school planning areas in County Dublin had unfilled first-year places.

Separately, Fine Gael Senator Gareth Scahill has called for a teacher relocation scheme to address retention issues. He proposed a national database for post-primary teachers to log desired locations, allowing the Department of Education to assess feasibility and provide fair mobility options.