Statistics
Gaeloideachas collates statistics from naíonraí outside Gaeltacht areas. These statistics help us to strategically plan for the development of Irish-medium education, to cater for the sector’s requirements and to provide effective support for naíonraí.
From 2023, statistics on the Irish-medium early years sector will be available from the Department of Children: contact@equality.gov.ie.
Our aim is to provide accurate and comprehensive information on the sector to the public. We publish overall statistics, and it is our policy not to publish information relating to a particular naíonra, or to pass such information on to a third party without the prior written consent of the naíonra concerned.
Naíonraí
179 naíonraí outside the Gaeltacht provided statistics to Gaeloideachas.
This information gives us an insight into a vibrant sector and the huge demand for its services, and we’re really grateful to the services for sharing the information with us.
- Gaeloideachas provides services and supports to 179 naíonraí outside the Gaeltacht
- These naíonraí are providing for 5,244 children across 338 sessions
- 86 naíonraí have waiting lists
- 93 naíonraí are co-located with Irish-medium primary schools
- The naíonraí employ 535 naíonra teachers, 98 of whom hold Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge qualifications in Irish language proficiency
- Of the 5,244 children, 378 speak a home language that is neither English or Irish, 149 speak Irish as a home language, and 189 children have Special Educational Needs, with 60 of those receiving additional support under the AIM scheme
You’ll find information below on the number of Irish-medium, aonaid lán-Ghaeilge and sruthanna Gaeilge; and the number of pupils both inside and outside the Gaeltacht, on a 32-county basis, according to the latest information available to us. These figures are for the 2021-2022 school year and will be updated once the information for the next school year is available to us.
The Department of Education is responsible for collecting and collating statistics from all schools in the 26 counties, including both Irish-medium and Gaeltacht schools. Further information is available directly from the Department: contact their Statistics Section directly with queries on 01-8892311 or statistics@education.gov.ie.
We are grateful to Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta for sharing general statistics with us on the Irish-medium schools in the 6 counties.
Primary Schools
Please contact the Statistics Section in the Department of Education directly with queries: 01-8892311 or statistics@education.gov.ie.
| 26 co. outside Gaeltacht | Gaeltacht | 26 co. total | 6 co. total | Total | |
| Students | 37,500 | 7,360 | 44,860 | 4,661 | 49,521 |
| Schools | 153 | 105 | 258 | 35 | 293 |
Figures from the Department of Education indicate that 8% of primary school students in the 26 counties attend Irish-medium schools, and that Irish-medium schools account for 8% of the primary schools in the 26 counties.
Post-primary Schools
Please contact the Statistics Section in the Department of Education directly with queries: 01-8892311 or statistics@education.gov.ie.
| 26 Co. outside Gaeltacht | Gaeltacht | 26 Co. total | 6 Co. total | Total | |
| Students |
11,951 | 3,832 | 15,783 | 1,675 | 17,458 |
| Schools | 47 | 29 | 76 | 5 | 81 |
Figures from the Department of Education indicate that 4% of post-primary school students in the 26 counties attend Irish-medium schools, and that Irish-medium schools account for 10% of the post-primary schools in the 26 counties.
Growth in the sector
Click below to download graphs on the growth of the sector outside Gaeltacht areas over the years:
Additional sources of information:
- An Roinn Oideachais (schools)
- Pobal (geographical information system) At Gaeloideachas’ request, a question regarding the language of provision will be included in the Pobal questionnaire from 2019 on. This will help to give a fuller picture of the Irish-medium early-years sector, and support Gaeloideachas’ lobbying for the rights and fair treatment of the naíonraí outside the Gaeltacht.
- Comhar Naíonraí na Gaeltachta (naíonraí in Gaeltacht areas)
- Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta (naíscoileanna and Irish-medium schools in the north)
- Early Childhood Ireland (early-years services)