Some 1 million full-time students use the education system in Ireland each day, attending primary, secondary, further and higher education institutions aided by the Department of Education and Skills. There are some 870,000 students in primary and secondary education in Ireland, with approximately 146,000 sitting the Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate examinations each year.
The Irish Education System Structure
Preschool
Children may attend preschool before starting primary school. Many children participate in the Early Childhood Care and Education Programme (ECCE), which provides free preschool for eligible children, usually for two years before primary school.
Primary School - Children usually attend primary school from age 5 to 12 (Junior Infants to 6th Class)
Post Primary has two main cycles.
Junior Cycle (3 years)
Students complete:
At the end, they take the Junior Cycle examinations in a range of subjects.
Transition Year (Optional)
Many schools offer a one-year Transition Year (TY) between Junior and Senior Cycle focusing on; personal development, work experience, Community involvement and career exploration.
Senior Cycle (2 years)
Students complete:
They usually study 6–8 subjects and prepare for the Leaving Certificate. The Leaving Certificate is the main qualification used for entry to higher education.
Further Education
After secondary school, students may choose further education instead of, or before, university.
Providers include:
Courses include:
Many FET qualifications can lead directly to employment or progression to higher education.
Third Level or Higher Education
30 Third Level colleges are funded by the Department providing services to over 279,000 full-time students.
Click here for a full list of these institutions.
Education and Training Boards (ETBs) deliver education and training across primary, post-primary, further education, adult learning, apprenticeships, and youth services. ETBs are funded by the Department of Education & Youth and SOLAS.
Budget 2026 saw €13.1 billion for Education and Youth which can be summarised below:
Teaching
Teaching at primary and second level is a much sought after career. Certain skill shortages are being experienced, partly due to the number of newly qualified teachers who opt to teach abroad, and partly due to the demand of skills in specific subject areas such as Physics and Irish.
The work is challenging and teachers are expected to continue to engage in continuing professional development to keep pace with changing needs, curriculum reform, integration of ICT and innovation in teaching and learning approaches.
Training
The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) plays a key role in advising on future enterprise skills needs and any emerging gaps. Recent reports published by the EGFSN indicate that the current needs of enterprise are in the areas of High-Level ICT and Manufacturing; Skills to Trade Internationally combined with a Foreign Language; International Financial Services and Entrepreneurship.
Springboard
In supporting unemployed people to upskill and reskill the Department of Education and Skills has launched two new competitive funding streams at higher education level that address the specific skills needs of industry and support job seekers into employment - Springboard and the ICT Skills Conversion programme.
Springboard is a specific initiative that strategically targets funding of free part-time higher education courses to enable unemployed people who have lost jobs in sectors where employment levels will not return, to upskill or reskill in areas where there are identified labour market skills shortages or employment opportunities. The courses, which are at level 6 (higher certificate) to level 9 (master’s degree) on the National Framework of Qualifications, are delivered in public and private higher education providers around the country. All courses approved for funding under Springboard are in areas of identified skills needs and are selected by an independent panel with industry and educational expertise, following a competitive call for proposals. Details of Springboard courses and the eligibility criteria for participation are available on the dedicated information and applications website www.springboardcourses.ie
ICT Skills Conversion Programme
The ICT Skills Conversion programmes are provided as part of the joint Government-Industry ICT Action Plan. Jobseekers with a Level 8 qualification are eligible to apply for the conversion programmes. The courses, which are free of charge to participants, are all highly intensive and lead to an honours degree award (NFQ level 8) in computer science. Courses are designed and delivered in partnership with industry and include a work placement of 3 to 6 months duration. Further information is available at www.ictskills.ie
