ACCESS TO EDUCATION:
Education in Ireland is a constitutional right, however access to the different levels of education varies.
ACCESS TO PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION:
State funded primary and secondary school education is free for most legal migrants in Ireland, irrespective of your immigration status. It is compulsory for children within the primary and secondary school levels, from the age of 5- 18 years, to receive an education.
However schools in Ireland have different admissions policy. It is important to contact your preferred school for the admissions policy before the start of a new academic year.
Children must be enrolled before the start of an academic year, which usually in September. For enrollment contact the principal of your school of choice. English language support classes are also available for children.
If you are a non-EEA migrant on a student visa, your child is not permitted to access free primary and secondary school education. To enroll your child in school, we advise you check with the Department of Education upon arrival in Ireland.
ACCESS TO THIRD LEVEL EDUCATION:
As a Non-Irish national, access to third level education entitlements vary in relation to immigration status.
• Migrants from EEA countries and Switzerland are entitled to the same access to education as Irish citizens, including tuition fee rate.
• Persons with refugee status can access same entitlements as other Irish citizens.
• If you are a residency Stamp 4 holder you are permitted to access education entitlements as other Irish citizens.
• Persons seeking asylum are not entitled to access full-time education and training funded by the state. However there are other available programmes that can be accessed. For further details see the website: http://www.cdvec.ie/
• Non-EEA persons interested in studying in Ireland may require a Student Visa. For further information see: http://www.icosirl.ie/ or http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/Student_Visa_Guidelines
• Undocumented persons are not entitled to access education.
For further general information see: www.fas.ie/ , www.citizensinformation.ie/, http://www.into.ie/ROI/Publications/ , http://www.ria.gov.ie/publications/