Q: We are planning a year long sabbatical in Ireland with our children, and are wondering how we would go about enrolling them in school?
A: The normal procedure when moving to Ireland and finding schools for your children is to make direct contact with the schools in the area where you plan to live.
On Scoinet there is a 'Schools Online' section, which gives the contact details for all schools – where possible, it includes email and website details. You can search the database for schools in the area to which you plan to move. If you contact the school principal they will give you advice on enrolling your child and information you will need to provide the school.
If you required general information on rules and regulations you should contact the Department of Education and Science at the following:
The Department of Education:
Hawkin's House,
Dublin 2.
website: http://www.education.ie/
phone: + 353 1 8734700 (all sections)
At primary level the following Teachers Union may deal with queries and distribute information on entering the Irish education system:
Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO)
35 Parnell Square,
Dublin 1.
website: http://www.into.ie/
phone: +353 1 872 2533
More information is available from the following:
Central Applications Offices,
Tower House,
Eglinton Street,
Galway.
Website: http://www.cao.ie/
Phone: + 353 91 563318/563269