A Department of Education analysis has identified tens of thousands of spare places in primary and secondary schools as the number of Ukrainian families arriving in Ireland gathers pace.
Ukrainian children of school-going age, who are beneficiaries of the so-called temporary protection directive, are entitled to continue their education in Ireland.
An unpublished report, seen by the Irish Times, has found there is significant spare capacity at primary level.
On a national level, total primary enrolments peaked in 2018 and have been reducing since.s
The net overall reduction in primary enrolments by 2022/23 was projected to be in the order of 25,000 pupils, a Department of Education spokesman said.
There are fewer spare places overall at second level due to a demographic bulge passing through the post-primary system.
Available capacity across schools varies significantly at local and regional level across the country, in both rural and urban areas.
Government Ministers have signalled there will be a focus on placing families outside major urban centres, where the housing crisis is worst, and ensuring there is access to education, transport and other services.
Read the full report on the Irish Times website.
