Nationwide Survey Launched to Shape Future of Primary Education in Ireland

Dublin: A landmark national survey has been launched across Ireland’s primary schools to gather public views on the future direction of education, including the role of religion, language, and school structure. The survey—described as the largest of its kind in Ireland—is being conducted by the Education and Training Board Ireland (ETBI) in partnership with the Department of Education and will remain open until December 16.

Parents, guardians, teachers, and school management are being urged to participate in the consultation, which will help guide reforms planned for the coming years. The findings will inform policy decisions expected to take effect from September 2027.

Focus on Religion, Language, and Inclusivity

The survey seeks to understand whether religious beliefs are currently given priority in schools and whether this should change. It also asks for views on multi-denominational education, co-educational versus single-sex schooling, and Irish-medium instruction.

At present, 95% of Ireland’s 3,089 primary schools operate under Catholic patronage, while only 156 schools (5%) are multi-denominational. The government says the survey will help determine if parents want a shift toward a more inclusive and secular model of education.

Education Minister Helen McEntee said the initiative aims to ensure that Ireland’s education system reflects the diversity of modern society.

“We want to understand what parents and guardians truly want for their children,” McEntee said. “This survey is about listening and ensuring our schools evolve in line with the values and expectations of families across Ireland.”

Participants will be asked to provide their Eircode to identify the schools their children attend, helping the Department assess local needs and demand.

Questions in the Survey

The Primary School Survey 2030 asks parents and guardians to express their preferences on key issues, including:

• Whether they want co-educational or single-sex schooling (most Irish schools currently cater exclusively to boys or girls).
• Whether they prefer schools to remain under religious patronage or transition to a multi-denominational model.
• Whether they favour English-medium or Irish-medium instruction.

Curriculum to Remain Unchanged

ETBI General Secretary Paddy Lavelle emphasised that potential changes would affect only school patronage, not curriculum content, staffing, or extracurricular activities.

“This is an opportunity to make sure schools reflect Ireland’s growing diversity,” Lavelle said. “The goal is to teach about different religious and non-religious worldviews—not just a single faith perspective.”

Lavelle also noted that Catholic families would still have the option for their children to receive First Communion or Confirmation preparation, though this would take place outside regular school hours.

ETBI oversees a network of Community National Schools and Community Colleges—all co-educational, multi-denominational, and publicly funded. According to the 2022 Census, 69% of Ireland’s population identifies as Catholic, while more than 14% of the 31% non-Catholic population identifies as non-religious.

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