Mainstream primary school numbers see first significant drop in 20 years

In the past decade the number of multi-denominational schools has risen from 85 to 159 – an increase of 87% – as the number of Catholic schools declined by 110 since 2011. Picture Denis Minihane.

Numbers attending mainstream primary schools in the Republic have recorded their first significant drop in almost 20 years with some 6,300 fewer pupils enrolled in the 2020/21 academic year.

Preliminary figures on enrolments for the current school year published by the Department of Education show a 1.1% fall-off in numbers attending mainstream primary schools.