How secondary school admissions work in Ireland
When secondary schools can open applications, what the admission notice must tell you, what schools can't ask, how places are decided when a school is full, and how to appeal.
Updated 16 October 2026
Every state-funded secondary school in Ireland follows the same law on admissions: the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018. The details differ from school to school, but the rules below apply everywhere.
Read the admission policy first
Each school publishes an admission policy on its website. It sets out who gets priority if the school has more applicants than places. Read it for every school you're considering, because the criteria and their order vary a lot.
Watch for the annual admission notice
Each year the school publishes an admission notice on its website at least one week before applications open. It must tell you:
- where to get the admission policy and the application form
- the dates applications open and close (the window must be at least three weeks)
- the date you'll hear back
- how long you have to accept an offer, and that the offer can be withdrawn if you don't accept in time
- how many first-year places there are, including places in any special class
- if the school was full last year, how many applied and how many offers went out under each criterion
When applications open
Schools can't accept applications before 1 October in the year before your child would start. So for first year in September 2027, the earliest a school can open is 1 October 2026. Each school sets its own dates after that, so check the notice. Schools usually tell you their decision within three weeks of the closing date.
No first come, first served
Every application received inside the school's application window is treated the same. A school can't give priority based on the date or time your application arrived. You don't need to queue or apply on the first morning.
What schools can't do
- Charge a fee or ask for a contribution to apply or to enrol. Fee-paying schools are the exception for their fees.
- Make an interview, open day or other meeting a condition of a place. Going to an open night is useful, but it can't affect whether you get in.
- Select on academic ability, skills or aptitude. No entrance exams for places.
- Consider a parent's job, income or ability to pay.
Common priority criteria
- Brothers and sisters of current or past students.
- Feeder primary schools. Many schools list named primary schools whose pupils get priority, often alongside a catchment area.
- Parents or grandparents who went to the school. This is allowed, but for no more than 25% of places.
- Irish-medium schools can give priority to children from Irish-medium primary schools. More on Gaelcholáistí.
If the school is full
An oversubscribed school must keep a waiting list in order of priority. It's valid only for that school year. If a place comes up, it goes to the next child on the list.
If your child is refused a place, the school must tell you in writing why. Where relevant, it must give your child's ranking against the criteria and their place on the waiting list. Being put on a waiting list counts as a refusal.
How to challenge a refusal
- Ask the board of management to review the decision within 21 calendar days of the date on the refusal letter. The school will tell you how.
- Appeal to an independent appeals committee under section 29 of the Education Act 1998. You must appeal no later than 63 calendar days from the original refusal, not from the review outcome.
The new single application pilot
For first year in 2027/28, the Department of Education and Youth is piloting one online application form, applytoschool.ie, for 22 schools in ten areas: Athenry, Celbridge, Clonakilty, Greystones, Kilbeggan, Kilcoole, Maynooth, Oranmore, Rosscarbery and Tullamore/Killina.
- Applications opened on 1 October 2026 and close on 22 October 2026.
- Offers go out on 12 November 2026, and you must respond by 20 November 2026.
- Each school still uses its own admission policy. You may get more than one offer; accept only the one you want.
You'll need your child's birth certificate and up to two proofs of address to apply.
Ready to make a shortlist? See the secondary schools near you, then read how to choose between them.
Sources
- Education Act 1998, section 62 (as revised): admission policy
- gov.ie: School admissions and enrolment
- INTO: School admissions FAQ
- gov.ie: Appeals where a school is oversubscribed
- gov.ie: Apply to School, post-primary pilot
Rules and rates change. Check the official source before you rely on a detail, and tell us at [email protected] if something's out of date.