Education in the Republic of Ireland
Encyclopedia
The levels of education in Ireland
are primary
, secondary
and higher
(often known as "third-level") education. In recent years further education
has grown immensely. Growth in the economy since the 1960s has driven much of the change in the education system. Education in Ireland is free at all levels, including college (university), but only for students applying from the European Union
. For Universities there are Student Services Fees (up to €2,000 in 2011) which students are required to pay on registration, to cover examinations, insurance and registration costs.
The Department of Education and Skills, under the control of the Minister for Education and Skills, is in overall control of policy, funding and direction, whilst other important organisations are the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland
, the Higher Education Authority
, and on a local level the Vocational Education Committee
s are the only comprehensive system of government organisation. There are many other statutory and non-statutory bodies which have a function in the education system. The current Minister for Education is Ruairi Quinn
.
allows this education to be provided in the home; this has caused much legal wrangling for years as to the minimum standards required for home education since the constitution does not explicitly provide for the State to define these minimum standards.
In 1973 the requirement to pass the Irish language
in order to receive a second-level certificate
was dropped although a student attending a school which receives public money must be taught the language. Certain students may get an exemption from learning Irish; these include students who have spent a significant period of time abroad or students with a learning difficulty.
English is the primary medium of instruction
at all levels, except in Gaelscoil
eanna: schools in which Irish is the working language and which are increasingly popular. Universities also offer degree programmes in diverse disciplines, taught mostly through English, with a few in Irish. Some universities also offer some courses partly through other languages such as French, German or Spanish.
Children are typically enrolled in the Junior Infant class at the age of either four or five depending on the wishes of their parents and the policy of the school. Some schools require the child to have attained the age of four before a specific date in order to enroll. Otherwise, the child must seek a place in a different school or wait until the next year to enroll.
There are Irish language medium Naíonraí
which are growing rapidly all across Ireland. Nearly 4,000 preschoolers attend 278 preschool groups.
The Primary Certificate Examination (1929–1967) was the terminal examination at this level until the first primary school curriculum, Curaclam na Bunscoile (1971), was introduced, though informal standardized tests are still performed. The primary school system consists of eight years: Junior and Senior Infants (corresponding to kindergarten
), and First to Sixth Classes. Most children attend primary school between the ages of 4 and 12 although it is not compulsory until the age of 6. A minority of children start school at 3.
, a gaelscoil
or a preparatory school
.
As of 1996 primary schools numbered as follows:
In urban areas, there is considerable freedom in choosing the type of school the child will attend. The emphasis of the education system at second level is as much on breadth as on depth; the system attempts to prepare the individual for society and further education or work. This is similar to the education system in Scotland
.
Most students enter secondary school aged 12–13 and complete their Leaving Certificate Examination aged 17–19.
Some students opt for grinds
to improve their grades.
. Additional documents set out the standard in each element, module or subject.
Therefore, a typical secondary school will consist of First to Third Year (with the Junior Certificate at the end of Third), the usually optional Transition Year (though compulsory in some schools), and Fifth and Sixth Year (with the Leaving Cert. at the end of Sixth).
The vast majority of students continue from lower level to senior level, with only 12.3% leaving after the Junior Certificate. This is lower than the EU average of 15.2%.
Ireland's secondary students rank above average in terms of academic performance in both the OECD and EU; having reading literacy, mathematical literacy and scientific literacy
test scores better than average. Ireland has the second best reading literacy for teenagers in the EU, after Finland.
s, childcare, farming, retail, and tourism. These are typically areas of the economy that do not depend on multinational investment and recognition. There are many different types of further education awards, known as Post Leaving Certificate
s.
The Further Education and Training Awards Council
confers awards in the extra-university system. Further education has expanded immensely in recent years helped by the institutions, and because of this the type and range of these awards have been formalized to restore confidence. There are two separate schemes enabling progression for holders of FETAC awards to Universities and Institutes of Technology. FETAC awards carry points which can be used to access higher education.
(Trinity College), Dublin City University
, Dublin Institute of Technology
, Higher Education and Training Awards Council
, National University of Ireland
(Cork, Dublin, Galway and Maynooth), Cork Institute of Technology
, Waterford Institute of Technology
, St. Patrick's College, Maynooth(Pontifical University),University of Limerick
and Mary Immaculate College, Limerick
. These are the degree-awarding authorities approved by the Government of Ireland and can grant awards at all academic levels. The King's Inns
of Dublin has a limited role in education specialising in the preparation of candidates for the degree of barrister-at-law
to practice as barristers.
Some college
s are "constituent" or "linked" colleges of universities
, whilst others are designated institutions of the Higher Education and Training Awards Council. The latter include the Institutes of Technology, Colleges of Education, and other independent colleges. Some colleges have "delegated authority" from the Higher Education and Training Awards Council, this allows them to confer and validate awards in their own name.
Some institutions such as the University of Limerick
and Dublin City University
(DCU) have completed a process of modularising their courses (others are still in a transition phase), mostly using the ECTS
. The Bologna process
and applied research
are the current concerns of national educational policy, additional concerns include the structures of the National University of Ireland
and Trinity College, Dublin
.
The Marks & Standards document, offered by most institutions, can be consulted for information on the range and criteria set down for awards, while programme specifications offer additional information. In contrast to practice in the rest of the education system, entry tends to be highly competitive for school leavers; the so called "Points Race
". In 2001 the percentage of school leavers transferring to third level exceeded 50% for the first time, as of 2005 it is in excess of 55% and expected to grow at approximately 1% per annum for the next decade.
There are over 25 third-level courses at graduate and postgraduate level offered through the Irish language. Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge
is the Irish language Department of the National University of Ireland, Galway
(NUI Galway) and it has different off-campus centres throughout the Gaeltacht regions. Dublin City University (has a vibrant and active Irish language department called Fiontar, University College Dublin
(UCD) and Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology
(GMIT) also offer similar courses.
All but two of the seven universities in the Republic of Ireland offer "open" (omnibus entry) Bachelor of Arts
degrees through the CAO
where the student can choose their specialisation after their first year of study. The two universities that do not offer "open" (omnibus entry) arts degrees, (Trinity College, Dublin
and Dublin City University
) do still offer Bachelor of Arts degrees in specific areas of study such as Drama Studies
, Journalism
, Latin
, History
, Japanese
and International Relations
. In one, Trinity College, Dublin
, the student wishing to do an arts degree must apply to the college naming a viable combination of two "arts" subjects, such as French and Philosophy, and in the final year the student must choose one of the two to focus solely on. Dublin City University
's de facto omnibus entry arts degree is offered by St. Patrick's College of Education
(a college of DCU) and is titled "BA
in Humanities
", All Hallows College
(a college of DCU) offer BA
in Humanities, Theology Pastoral Care, and English.
Ireland also has 0.747 of the World's top 500 Universities per capita, which ranks the country in 8th place in the world.
There are seven establishments of higher education in the Republic of Ireland which are ranked amongst the top 500 universities worldwide by the Times Higher Education Supplement.
For medical education, please see under the article medical education.
Entry into Universities is normally done through the CAO or Central Applications Office. In this way, students wishing to enter university apply to the CAO rather than the individual university. Places in courses are usually awarded based on results in the Leaving Certificate Examination or any international equivalent. Each university has a minimum entry requirement, usually requiring a pass grade in either English or Irish, as well as maths. Some also require a pass grade in a modern continental European language (French, German, Spanish or Italian). Each individual course has further entry requirements, for example, science courses usually require a certain grade in one or two sciences. The student must also achieve the number of points required for the course under the points system. However, universities also have systems in place for accepting mature students, and students who have successfully completed a Post Leaving Certificate or Further Education course.
Entry into third-level is generally very high in Ireland, and among young adults (those aged 25 to 34), 41.6% of them have attained third-level degrees - the second highest level in the EU after Cyprus, and substantially ahead of the average of 29.1%.
will pay the tuition
fees of students who meet relevant course, nationality and residence requirements as set down under the initiative. These requirements include:
Students are required to pay a "registration fee" on entry to their courses. These charges cover costs such as equipment usage, administration fees and exam fees. Charges for 2008/09 were on average €850 per student, but have been raised to €1,500 per student for the 2009/10 school year. These charges have been labelled as "unofficial fees", and University Heads have admitted that "student registration charges are fees by any other name".
There has recently been talk of reintroducing third-level fees with calls from DCU
President, Ferdinand von Prondzynski
, to do so in order to protect university funding. Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe
has conceded that there is a possibility of the reintroduction of fees in some form.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
are primary
Primary education
A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...
, secondary
Secondary education
Secondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...
and higher
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
(often known as "third-level") education. In recent years further education
Further education
Further education is a term mainly used in connection with education in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is post-compulsory education , that is distinct from the education offered in universities...
has grown immensely. Growth in the economy since the 1960s has driven much of the change in the education system. Education in Ireland is free at all levels, including college (university), but only for students applying from the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
. For Universities there are Student Services Fees (up to €2,000 in 2011) which students are required to pay on registration, to cover examinations, insurance and registration costs.
The Department of Education and Skills, under the control of the Minister for Education and Skills, is in overall control of policy, funding and direction, whilst other important organisations are the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland
National Qualifications Authority of Ireland
The National Qualifications Authority of Ireland or NQAI was set up under the Qualifications Act, 1999 to develop and promote the implementation of a National Framework of Qualifications across education and training in Ireland.-The Authority's role:The Authority’s principal tasks are as...
, the Higher Education Authority
Higher Education Authority
The Higher Education Authority is the authority in Ireland with responsibility for higher education since 1968 and placed on a statutory basis in 1971. The authority supports HEAnet, part of the GEANT network....
, and on a local level the Vocational Education Committee
Vocational Education Committee
A Vocational Education Committee is a statutory local education body in the Republic of Ireland that administers some secondary education, most adult education and a very small amount of primary education in the state...
s are the only comprehensive system of government organisation. There are many other statutory and non-statutory bodies which have a function in the education system. The current Minister for Education is Ruairi Quinn
Ruairi Quinn
Ruairi Quinn is an Irish Labour Party politician who has been Minister for Education and Skills since March 2011. He is currently a Teachta Dála for the Dublin South East constituency. He was Minister for Finance from 1994 to 1997, and leader of the Labour Party from 1997 to 2002.-Early...
.
Introduction
All children must receive compulsory education between the ages of six and fifteen years, and all children up to the age of eighteen must complete the three years of post-primary. The Constitution of IrelandConstitution of Ireland
The Constitution of Ireland is the fundamental law of the Irish state. The constitution falls broadly within the liberal democratic tradition. It establishes an independent state based on a system of representative democracy and guarantees certain fundamental rights, along with a popularly elected...
allows this education to be provided in the home; this has caused much legal wrangling for years as to the minimum standards required for home education since the constitution does not explicitly provide for the State to define these minimum standards.
In 1973 the requirement to pass the Irish language
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
in order to receive a second-level certificate
State Examinations Commission
The State Examinations Commission is the organisation that replaced the Department of Education and Science, Examinations Branch of the Minister for Education and Science in the Republic of Ireland...
was dropped although a student attending a school which receives public money must be taught the language. Certain students may get an exemption from learning Irish; these include students who have spent a significant period of time abroad or students with a learning difficulty.
English is the primary medium of instruction
Medium of instruction
Medium of instruction is a language used in teaching. It may or may not be the official language of the country or territory. Where the first language of students is different from the official language, it may be used as the medium of instruction for part or all of schooling. Bilingual or...
at all levels, except in Gaelscoil
Gaelscoil
A gaelscoil is an Irish-medium primary school in Ireland, of a sort found outside the traditionally Irish-speaking regions, especially in urban areas....
eanna: schools in which Irish is the working language and which are increasingly popular. Universities also offer degree programmes in diverse disciplines, taught mostly through English, with a few in Irish. Some universities also offer some courses partly through other languages such as French, German or Spanish.
Years
Education is compulsory for all children in Ireland from the ages of six to 16 or until students have completed three years of second level education and including one sitting of the Junior Certificate examination although it is most common to start primary education aged four or five.Children are typically enrolled in the Junior Infant class at the age of either four or five depending on the wishes of their parents and the policy of the school. Some schools require the child to have attained the age of four before a specific date in order to enroll. Otherwise, the child must seek a place in a different school or wait until the next year to enroll.
Pre-school
Pre-school is optional in Ireland and takes the form of a number of privately run crèches, play-schools and Montessori schools, which children attend for one year or two, at ages three and/or four. Parents must pay to send their child to these institutions using their own earnings and any child allowance they receive from the government. From 2009 onwards children are entitled to a year of free pre-schooling in the year prior to starting primary schools under the "Early Childcare and Education Scheme".There are Irish language medium Naíonraí
Naíonra
A naíonra is an Irish medium playgroup for pre-school children, which follows the principle of Total Early Immersion.-Definition:...
which are growing rapidly all across Ireland. Nearly 4,000 preschoolers attend 278 preschool groups.
Primary School (Bunscoil)
- Junior Infants (Naíonáin Shóisearacha) (age 4-5)
- Senior Infants (Naíonáin Shinsearacha) (age 5-6)
- First Class (Rang a hAon) (age 6-7)
- Second Class (Rang a Dó) (age 7-8)
- Third Class (Rang a Trí) (age 8-9)
- Fourth Class (Rang a Ceathar) (age 9-10)
- Fifth Class (Rang a Cúig) (age 10-11)
- Sixth Class (Rang a Sé) (age 11-12)
Junior Cycle (Timthriall Sóisearach)
- First Year (An Chéad Bhliain) (age 12–13)
- Second Year (An Dara Bliain) (age 13–14)
- Third Year (An Tríú Bliain) (age 14–15) – The Junior CertificateJunior CertificateThe Junior Certificate is an educational qualification awarded in Ireland by the Department of Education to students who have successfully completed the junior cycle of secondary education, and achieved a minimum standard in their Junior Cert. examinations...
(Teastas Sóisearach) Examination is sat in all subjects (usually 10 or 11) in early June. Many schools have Mocks (also known as 'Pre's) to prepare students around February. The Mocks are not State examinations — independent companies provide the exam papers etc. – and are therefore not mandatory across all schools.
Transition Year (Idirbhliain)
- Transition YearTransition YearTransition Year is an optional one-year school programme that can be taken in the year after the Junior Certificate in Ireland and is intended to make the senior cycle a three year programme encompassing both Transition Year and Leaving Certificate...
(Idirbhliain) (age 15–16) – optional in some schools, compulsory in others — Otherwise not available.)
Senior Cycle (Timthriall Sinsearach)
- Fifth Year (An Cúigiú Bliain) (age 16–17 or if transition year is skipped age 15–16)
- Sixth Year (An Séú Bliain) (age 17–18 or, again, if transition year is skipped age 16–17) – The Leaving CertificateLeaving CertificateThe Leaving Certificate Examinations , commonly referred to as the Leaving Cert is the final examination in the Irish secondary school system. It takes a minimum of two years preparation, but an optional Transition Year means that for those students it takes place three years after the Junior...
(Ardteistiméireacht) examination is sat on the first Wednesday after the June bank holiday every year. Many schools have Mocks (also known as 'Pre's) to prepare students around February. The Mocks are not State examinations — independent companies provide the exam papers etc. – and are therefore not mandatory across all schools.
Primary education
The Primary School Curriculum (1999) is taught in all schools. The document is prepared by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment and is perhaps unusual in leaving to church authorities (usually the Catholic Church but not universally) the formulation and implementation of the religious curriculum in the schools they control. The curriculum seeks to celebrate the uniqueness of the child:- ...as it is expressed in each child's personality, intelligence and potential for development. It is designed to nurture the child in all dimensions of his or her life -- spiritual, moral, cognitive, emotional, imaginative, aesthetic, social and physical...
The Primary Certificate Examination (1929–1967) was the terminal examination at this level until the first primary school curriculum, Curaclam na Bunscoile (1971), was introduced, though informal standardized tests are still performed. The primary school system consists of eight years: Junior and Senior Infants (corresponding to kindergarten
Kindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
), and First to Sixth Classes. Most children attend primary school between the ages of 4 and 12 although it is not compulsory until the age of 6. A minority of children start school at 3.
Types of school
Primary education is generally completed at a national school, a multidenominational schoolMultidenominational school
A multidenominational school is a relatively new type of primary school in Ireland. They often try to move away from traditional models based around religion, which are common in Ireland, typically these are Roman Catholic and to a lesser extent Church of Ireland schools.Multidenominational schools...
, a gaelscoil
Gaelscoil
A gaelscoil is an Irish-medium primary school in Ireland, of a sort found outside the traditionally Irish-speaking regions, especially in urban areas....
or a preparatory school
Preparatory school (UK)
In English language usage in the former British Empire, the present-day Commonwealth, a preparatory school is an independent school preparing children up to the age of eleven or thirteen for entry into fee-paying, secondary independent schools, some of which are known as public schools...
.
- National schools date back to the introduction of state primary education in 1831. They are usually controlled by a board of management under diocesanDioceseA diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
patronagePatronagePatronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows to another. In the history of art, arts patronage refers to the support that kings or popes have provided to musicians, painters, and sculptors...
and often include a local clergyman. The term "national school" has of late become partly synonymous with primary schoolPrimary educationA primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...
in some parts. Recently, there have been calls from many sides for fresh thinking in the areas of funding and governance for such schools, with many wanting them to be fully secularised. - GaelscoilennaGaelscoilA gaelscoil is an Irish-medium primary school in Ireland, of a sort found outside the traditionally Irish-speaking regions, especially in urban areas....
are a recent movement, started in the mid 20th century. The Irish language is the working language in these schools and they can now be found countrywide. They differ from Irish-language National Schools in that most are under the patronage of a voluntary organisation, Foras Pátrúnachta na Scoileanna Lán-GhaeilgeAn Foras Pátrúnachta na Scoileanna LánGhaeilge TeoAn Foras Pátrúnachta na Scoileanna LánGhaeilge Teo is the patron body of many gaelscoileanna in the Republic of Ireland. It was founded in 1993 to act as an alternative patron body for gaelscoileanna....
, rather than a diocesan patronage. Nearly 10% of all school children attend Gaelscoils with 368 primary and post-primary schools across the country making it the fastest growing education sector. - Multidenominational schoolMultidenominational schoolA multidenominational school is a relatively new type of primary school in Ireland. They often try to move away from traditional models based around religion, which are common in Ireland, typically these are Roman Catholic and to a lesser extent Church of Ireland schools.Multidenominational schools...
s are another innovation. They are generally under the patronage of a non-profit limited company without share capital. They are often opened due to parental demand and students from all religions and backgrounds are welcome. Many are under the patronage of a voluntary organisation, Educate TogetherEducate TogetherEducate Together is an organisation in the Republic of Ireland which sets up and runs multidenominational, coeducational schools. It was founded in 1984 as a result of the Dalkey School Project to found a multidenominational primary school....
. At least one proposed school has been approved under the patronage of the regional VEC, who generally run vocational secondary schools. - Preparatory schoolsPreparatory school (UK)In English language usage in the former British Empire, the present-day Commonwealth, a preparatory school is an independent school preparing children up to the age of eleven or thirteen for entry into fee-paying, secondary independent schools, some of which are known as public schools...
are independentIndependent schoolAn independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the...
, fee-paying primary schools that are not reliant on the state for funding. These typically serve to prepare children for entry to fee-paying independent or voluntaryVoluntary secondary schoolA voluntary secondary school in Ireland is a type of secondary education school that is privately owned and managed, often by church authorities, especially in the case of the Roman Catholic religion...
secondary schools. Most are under the patronage of a religious order.
As of 1996 primary schools numbered as follows:
| Type of school | Number | Percentage of total (to 1d.p.) |
|---|---|---|
| Roman Catholic | 2,988 | 93.1% |
| Church of Ireland (Anglican) | 190 | 5.9% |
| Presbyterian | 18 | 0.6% |
| Methodist | 1 | <0.1% |
| Jewish | 1 | <0.1% |
| Muslim | 1 | <0.1% |
| Multi-denominational | 10 | 0.3% |
Secondary education
Most students attend and complete secondary education, with approximately 90% of school-leavers taking the terminal examination, the Leaving Certificate, at age 16–19.(That is; at the 6th year at secondary school.) Secondary education is generally completed at one of four types of school:- Voluntary secondary schoolVoluntary secondary schoolA voluntary secondary school in Ireland is a type of secondary education school that is privately owned and managed, often by church authorities, especially in the case of the Roman Catholic religion...
s, or just "secondary schools", are owned and managed by religious communities or private organisations. The state funds 90% of teachers' salaries and 95% of other costs. Such schools cater for 57% of secondary pupils. - Vocational schoolVocational schoolA vocational school , providing vocational education, is a school in which students are taught the skills needed to perform a particular job...
s are owned and managed by Vocational Education CommitteeVocational Education CommitteeA Vocational Education Committee is a statutory local education body in the Republic of Ireland that administers some secondary education, most adult education and a very small amount of primary education in the state...
s, with 93% of their costs met by the state. These schools educate 28% of secondary pupils. - Comprehensive schoolComprehensive schoolA comprehensive school is a state school that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude. This is in contrast to the selective school system, where admission is restricted on the basis of a selection criteria. The term is commonly used in relation to the United...
s or community schoolCommunity schoolThe term "community school" refers to types of publicly funded school in England, Wales, the Republic of Ireland, the United States, Australia, Canada and New Zealand to a school that serves as both an educational institution and a centre of community life. A community school is both a place and a...
s were established in the 1960s, often by amalgamating voluntary secondary and vocational schools. They are fully funded by the state, and run by local boards of management. Nearly 15% of secondary pupils attend such schools. - GaelcholáistesGaelcholáisteA gaelcholáiste is a particular type of Irish medium school in Ireland and Northern Ireland at secondary level. They are characterised by being secondary Irish-medium schools outside the Gaeltacht. Of the approximately 10,000 secondary students who do all their school subjects through Irish,...
are the second-level schools for Irish language medium education sector. Approximately 3% of secondary students attend these schools. Please see GaelscoileannaGaelscoilA gaelscoil is an Irish-medium primary school in Ireland, of a sort found outside the traditionally Irish-speaking regions, especially in urban areas....
for the Irish language primary level sector. There are 368 Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí in Ireland. - Grind SchoolsGrindsIn Ireland, grinds are private tuition; a major industry in Ireland, particularly at secondary school level."Grinds" is a Hiberno-English term which is used variously to refer to both the lesson and the teacher , although the latter usage is less common...
are fee paying privately run schools outside the state sector, who tend to run only Senior Cycle 5th and 6th year as well as a One year Repeat Leaving Certificate programme.
In urban areas, there is considerable freedom in choosing the type of school the child will attend. The emphasis of the education system at second level is as much on breadth as on depth; the system attempts to prepare the individual for society and further education or work. This is similar to the education system in Scotland
Education in Scotland
Scotland has a long history of universal provision of public education, and the Scottish education system is distinctly different from the other countries of the United Kingdom...
.
Most students enter secondary school aged 12–13 and complete their Leaving Certificate Examination aged 17–19.
Some students opt for grinds
Grinds
In Ireland, grinds are private tuition; a major industry in Ireland, particularly at secondary school level."Grinds" is a Hiberno-English term which is used variously to refer to both the lesson and the teacher , although the latter usage is less common...
to improve their grades.
Types of programme
The document Rules and Programme for Secondary Schools published by the Department of Education and Science sets out the minimum standards of education required at this level. Examinations are overseen by the State Examinations CommissionState Examinations Commission
The State Examinations Commission is the organisation that replaced the Department of Education and Science, Examinations Branch of the Minister for Education and Science in the Republic of Ireland...
. Additional documents set out the standard in each element, module or subject.
- The Junior Cycle builds on the education received at primary level and culminates with the Junior Certificate ExaminationJunior CertificateThe Junior Certificate is an educational qualification awarded in Ireland by the Department of Education to students who have successfully completed the junior cycle of secondary education, and achieved a minimum standard in their Junior Cert. examinations...
. Students usually begin this at the age of 12 or 13. The Junior Certificate Examination is taken after three years of study and not before fourteen years of age. It consists of exams in English, Irish, Maths (unless the student has an exemption in one of these) and Civil Social and Political Education as well as a number of chosen subjects. These typically consist of one or both of history and geography and a selection from subjects including Art, Science, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Latin, Ancient Greek and classical studies, music, business studies, environmental & social studies, technology, home economics, materials technology (woodwork), metalwork, religious education. Most students take around ten examined subjects altogether. Other non-examined classes at Junior Cycle level include Physical Education and Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE).
- The Transition YearTransition YearTransition Year is an optional one-year school programme that can be taken in the year after the Junior Certificate in Ireland and is intended to make the senior cycle a three year programme encompassing both Transition Year and Leaving Certificate...
is a one-year informal course which is taken by an increasing number of students usually ages 15 or 16. The content of this is left to the school to model on the local needs. It is compulsory in some schools, but optional in others and some schools do not have it. Students may attend structured classes, but do not cover material relevant to the Senior Cycle or the Leaving Certificate exams, and therefore students who choose not to do this year are in no way academically disadvantaged when entering the Senior Cycle. The range of activities in Transition Year or Fourth Year differs greatly from school to school, but many include activities such as work experience placements, project work, international trips or exchanges and excursions. Students may participate in courses such as creative writing, sailing, film-making, public speaking and so on, or enter competitions in science, fashion, motor sport and others which would normally be too time-consuming for a full-time student. Proponents of TY believe that it allows students an extra year to mature, engage in self-directed learning, explore career options and to choose subjects for senior cycle (the results of the Junior Certificate examination do not become available until midway through September, by which time students not taking Transition Year will already have chosen their classes and begun attending). Opponents believe that a year away from traditional study and the classroom environment can distract students and cause problems when they return to the Senior Cycle. They also believe that the activities undertaken in TY prevent some students from enrolling in this year, as they can be costly and most schools charge a fee of a few hundred euro to cover these activities.
- The Senior Cycle builds on the junior cycle and culminates with the Leaving Certificate ExaminationLeaving CertificateThe Leaving Certificate Examinations , commonly referred to as the Leaving Cert is the final examination in the Irish secondary school system. It takes a minimum of two years preparation, but an optional Transition Year means that for those students it takes place three years after the Junior...
. Students normally begin this aged 15–17 the year following the completion of the Junior Cycle or Transition Year. The Leaving Certificate Examination is taken after two years of study usually at the ages of 17-19.
Therefore, a typical secondary school will consist of First to Third Year (with the Junior Certificate at the end of Third), the usually optional Transition Year (though compulsory in some schools), and Fifth and Sixth Year (with the Leaving Cert. at the end of Sixth).
The vast majority of students continue from lower level to senior level, with only 12.3% leaving after the Junior Certificate. This is lower than the EU average of 15.2%.
Ireland's secondary students rank above average in terms of academic performance in both the OECD and EU; having reading literacy, mathematical literacy and scientific literacy
Scientific literacy
Scientific literacy encompasses written, numerical, and digital literacy as they pertain to understanding science, its methodology, observations, and theories.-Definition:...
test scores better than average. Ireland has the second best reading literacy for teenagers in the EU, after Finland.
Further education
Further education was for many years the "poor relation" of education. There were many different, often poorly defined, awards offered by a multitude of bodies, both ad-hoc and statutory. Typical areas included apprenticeshipApprenticeship
Apprenticeship is a system of training a new generation of practitioners of a skill. Apprentices or protégés build their careers from apprenticeships...
s, childcare, farming, retail, and tourism. These are typically areas of the economy that do not depend on multinational investment and recognition. There are many different types of further education awards, known as Post Leaving Certificate
Post Leaving Certificate
A Post Leaving Certificate is an informal term covering a large range of courses and qualifications run in Ireland for students who have finished their secondary education. The majority of students who enrol on a PLC course are under 23, however mature students are welcome...
s.
The Further Education and Training Awards Council
Further Education and Training Awards Council
The Further Education and Training Awards Council is the statutory awarding body for further education in Ireland...
confers awards in the extra-university system. Further education has expanded immensely in recent years helped by the institutions, and because of this the type and range of these awards have been formalized to restore confidence. There are two separate schemes enabling progression for holders of FETAC awards to Universities and Institutes of Technology. FETAC awards carry points which can be used to access higher education.
Framework
| EFQ European Qualifications Framework European Qualifications Framework is a European Union initiative to create a translating facility for referencing academic degrees and other learning qualifications among EU member states... level |
EHEA European Higher Education Area The European Higher Education Area was launched along with the Bologna Process' decade anniversary, in March 2010, during the Budapest-Vienna Ministerial Conference.... cycle |
NFQ National Framework of Qualifications The National Framework of Qualifications is a system used to describe levels of educational qualifications in Ireland. Responsibility for maintaining and developing the framework lies with the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland.... level |
Major award types |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Level 1 Certificate | |
| 2 | Level 2 Certificate | ||
| 2 | 3 | Level 3 Certificate Junior Certificate Junior Certificate The Junior Certificate is an educational qualification awarded in Ireland by the Department of Education to students who have successfully completed the junior cycle of secondary education, and achieved a minimum standard in their Junior Cert. examinations... |
|
| 3 | 4 | Level 4 Certificate Leaving Certificate Leaving Certificate The Leaving Certificate Examinations , commonly referred to as the Leaving Cert is the final examination in the Irish secondary school system. It takes a minimum of two years preparation, but an optional Transition Year means that for those students it takes place three years after the Junior... |
|
| 4 | 5 | Level 5 Certificate Leaving Certificate |
|
| 5 | 6 | Advanced Certificate | |
| Short cycle within 1st | Higher Certificate Higher Certificate The Higher Certificate is an award that has replaced the National Certificate in the Republic of Ireland The Higher Certificate is awarded by various Institutes of Technology... |
||
| 6 | 1st | 7 | Ordinary Bachelor's degree Bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world... |
| 8 | Honours Bachelor's Degree Higher diploma Higher diploma A higher diploma is an academic award in Libya, United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Ireland and Oman. In Libya the award is equivalent to a bachelor's degree in engineering or technology, in Hong Kong it is below the standard of the bachelor's degree, in Ireland it is above the standard of the bachelor's... |
||
| 7 | 2nd | 9 | Master's degree Master's degree A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice... Postgraduate diploma Postgraduate diploma A postgraduate diploma is a postgraduate qualification awarded typically after a bachelor's degree. It can be contrasted with a graduate diploma... |
| 8 | 3rd | 10 | Doctorate degree Higher doctorate |
Institutions
Higher (or third-level) education awards in Ireland are conferred by more than 38 Higher Education Institutions including University of DublinUniversity of Dublin
The University of Dublin , corporately designated the Chancellor, Doctors and Masters of the University of Dublin , located in Dublin, Ireland, was effectively founded when in 1592 Queen Elizabeth I issued a charter for Trinity College, Dublin, as "the mother of a university" – this date making it...
(Trinity College), Dublin City University
Dublin City University
Dublin City University is a university situated between Glasnevin, Santry, Ballymun and Whitehall on the Northside of Dublin in Ireland...
, Dublin Institute of Technology
Dublin Institute of Technology
Dublin Institute of Technology was established officially in 1992 under the but had been previously set up in 1978 on an ad-hoc basis. The institution can trace its origins back to 1887 with the establishment of various technical institutions in Dublin, Ireland...
, Higher Education and Training Awards Council
Higher Education and Training Awards Council
The Higher Education and Training Awards Council , the legal successor to the National Council for Educational Awards , grants higher education awards in Ireland in the extra-university system...
, National University of Ireland
National University of Ireland
The National University of Ireland , , is a federal university system of constituent universities, previously called constituent colleges, and recognised colleges set up under the Irish Universities Act, 1908, and significantly amended by the Universities Act, 1997.The constituent universities are...
(Cork, Dublin, Galway and Maynooth), Cork Institute of Technology
Cork Institute of Technology
Cork Institute of Technology , formerly the Regional Technical College, Cork, is an Institute of Technology in Ireland, located in Cork, Ireland opened in 1973. The institute has 17,000 students in art, business, engineering, music and science disciplines...
, Waterford Institute of Technology
Waterford Institute of Technology
Waterford Institute of Technology is a state funded third-level educational institution situated in the city of Waterford, Ireland. The Institute has six Schools and 16 Departments....
, St. Patrick's College, Maynooth(Pontifical University),University of Limerick
University of Limerick
The University of Limerick is a university in Ireland near the city of Limerick on the island's west coast. It was established in 1972 as the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick and became a university by statute in 1989 in accordance with the University of Limerick Act 1989...
and Mary Immaculate College, Limerick
Mary Immaculate College, Limerick
Mary Immaculate College , also known as Mary I or MIC, is a College of Education and Liberal Arts, founded in 1898. It became academically linked to the University of Limerick in 1991. The college has approximately 3,500 students and 300 staff...
. These are the degree-awarding authorities approved by the Government of Ireland and can grant awards at all academic levels. The King's Inns
King's Inns
The Honorable Society of King's Inns , is the institution which controls the entry of barristers-at-law into the justice system of Ireland...
of Dublin has a limited role in education specialising in the preparation of candidates for the degree of barrister-at-law
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
to practice as barristers.
Some college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
s are "constituent" or "linked" colleges of universities
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
, whilst others are designated institutions of the Higher Education and Training Awards Council. The latter include the Institutes of Technology, Colleges of Education, and other independent colleges. Some colleges have "delegated authority" from the Higher Education and Training Awards Council, this allows them to confer and validate awards in their own name.
Some institutions such as the University of Limerick
University of Limerick
The University of Limerick is a university in Ireland near the city of Limerick on the island's west coast. It was established in 1972 as the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick and became a university by statute in 1989 in accordance with the University of Limerick Act 1989...
and Dublin City University
Dublin City University
Dublin City University is a university situated between Glasnevin, Santry, Ballymun and Whitehall on the Northside of Dublin in Ireland...
(DCU) have completed a process of modularising their courses (others are still in a transition phase), mostly using the ECTS
European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System
This page describes ECTS-credits. For information about the ECTS grading system go to ECTS grading scale.European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System is a standard for comparing the study attainment and performance of students of higher education across the European Union and other...
. The Bologna process
Bologna process
The purpose of the Bologna Process is the creation of the European Higher Education Area by making academic degree standards and quality assurance standards more comparable and compatible throughout Europe, in particular under the Lisbon Recognition Convention...
and applied research
Applied research
Applied research is a form of systematic inquiry involving the practical application of science. It accesses and uses some part of the research communities' accumulated theories, knowledge, methods, and techniques, for a specific, often state, business, or client driven purpose...
are the current concerns of national educational policy, additional concerns include the structures of the National University of Ireland
National University of Ireland
The National University of Ireland , , is a federal university system of constituent universities, previously called constituent colleges, and recognised colleges set up under the Irish Universities Act, 1908, and significantly amended by the Universities Act, 1997.The constituent universities are...
and Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
.
The Marks & Standards document, offered by most institutions, can be consulted for information on the range and criteria set down for awards, while programme specifications offer additional information. In contrast to practice in the rest of the education system, entry tends to be highly competitive for school leavers; the so called "Points Race
Central Applications Office
The Central Applications Office is the organisation responsible for overseeing most undergraduate applications in the Republic of Ireland....
". In 2001 the percentage of school leavers transferring to third level exceeded 50% for the first time, as of 2005 it is in excess of 55% and expected to grow at approximately 1% per annum for the next decade.
There are over 25 third-level courses at graduate and postgraduate level offered through the Irish language. Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge
Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge
Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge was established under the auspices of the National University of Ireland, Galway in 2004, to develop Gaelic-medium education...
is the Irish language Department of the National University of Ireland, Galway
National University of Ireland, Galway
The National University of Ireland, Galway is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland...
(NUI Galway) and it has different off-campus centres throughout the Gaeltacht regions. Dublin City University (has a vibrant and active Irish language department called Fiontar, University College Dublin
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
(UCD) and Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology
Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology
Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology is a third level institute of education and is based at five locations in the west of Ireland.-Galway Campus:...
(GMIT) also offer similar courses.
All but two of the seven universities in the Republic of Ireland offer "open" (omnibus entry) Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degrees through the CAO
Central Applications Office
The Central Applications Office is the organisation responsible for overseeing most undergraduate applications in the Republic of Ireland....
where the student can choose their specialisation after their first year of study. The two universities that do not offer "open" (omnibus entry) arts degrees, (Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
and Dublin City University
Dublin City University
Dublin City University is a university situated between Glasnevin, Santry, Ballymun and Whitehall on the Northside of Dublin in Ireland...
) do still offer Bachelor of Arts degrees in specific areas of study such as Drama Studies
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
, Journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
, Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
, History
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
, Japanese
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
and International Relations
International relations
International relations is the study of relationships between countries, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations , international nongovernmental organizations , non-governmental organizations and multinational corporations...
. In one, Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
, the student wishing to do an arts degree must apply to the college naming a viable combination of two "arts" subjects, such as French and Philosophy, and in the final year the student must choose one of the two to focus solely on. Dublin City University
Dublin City University
Dublin City University is a university situated between Glasnevin, Santry, Ballymun and Whitehall on the Northside of Dublin in Ireland...
's de facto omnibus entry arts degree is offered by St. Patrick's College of Education
St. Patrick's College of Education (Drumcondra)
St Patrick's College of Education is a linked college of Dublin City University since 1993, located in Drumcondra, Dublin City, Ireland. The college is in existence since 1875 and has a Roman Catholic ethos. It is the largest primary teacher training college in Ireland...
(a college of DCU) and is titled "BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Humanities
Humanities
The humanities are academic disciplines that study the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytical, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural sciences....
", All Hallows College
All Hallows College
All Hallows College is a Roman Catholic college located in Drumcondra, Dublin, Ireland. All Hallows is one of six linked colleges of Dublin City University, meaning that the college's degrees are validated and accredited by the university.-History:...
(a college of DCU) offer BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Humanities, Theology Pastoral Care, and English.
Ireland also has 0.747 of the World's top 500 Universities per capita, which ranks the country in 8th place in the world.
There are seven establishments of higher education in the Republic of Ireland which are ranked amongst the top 500 universities worldwide by the Times Higher Education Supplement.
For medical education, please see under the article medical education.
Entry into Universities is normally done through the CAO or Central Applications Office. In this way, students wishing to enter university apply to the CAO rather than the individual university. Places in courses are usually awarded based on results in the Leaving Certificate Examination or any international equivalent. Each university has a minimum entry requirement, usually requiring a pass grade in either English or Irish, as well as maths. Some also require a pass grade in a modern continental European language (French, German, Spanish or Italian). Each individual course has further entry requirements, for example, science courses usually require a certain grade in one or two sciences. The student must also achieve the number of points required for the course under the points system. However, universities also have systems in place for accepting mature students, and students who have successfully completed a Post Leaving Certificate or Further Education course.
Entry into third-level is generally very high in Ireland, and among young adults (those aged 25 to 34), 41.6% of them have attained third-level degrees - the second highest level in the EU after Cyprus, and substantially ahead of the average of 29.1%.
Fees
Under the "Free Fees Initiative" the ExchequerDepartment of Finance (Ireland)
The Department of Finance is a department of the Government of Ireland. It is led by the Minister for Finance and is assisted by one Minister of State....
will pay the tuition
Tuition
Tuition payments, known primarily as tuition in American English and as tuition fees in British English, Canadian English, Australian English, New Zealand English and Indian English, refers to a fee charged for educational instruction during higher education.Tuition payments are charged by...
fees of students who meet relevant course, nationality and residence requirements as set down under the initiative. These requirements include:
- Holding EU nationality, or are a national of member country of the European Economic AreaEuropean Economic AreaThe European Economic Area was established on 1 January 1994 following an agreement between the member states of the European Free Trade Association and the European Community, later the European Union . Specifically, it allows Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway to participate in the EU's Internal...
or SwitzerlandSwitzerlandSwitzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, or those who have been granted official refugeeRefugeeA refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
status. - Having been a resident in an EU Member State for at least three of the five years preceding entry to the course.
- Are not undertaking a second undergraduate course.
Students are required to pay a "registration fee" on entry to their courses. These charges cover costs such as equipment usage, administration fees and exam fees. Charges for 2008/09 were on average €850 per student, but have been raised to €1,500 per student for the 2009/10 school year. These charges have been labelled as "unofficial fees", and University Heads have admitted that "student registration charges are fees by any other name".
There has recently been talk of reintroducing third-level fees with calls from DCU
Dublin City University
Dublin City University is a university situated between Glasnevin, Santry, Ballymun and Whitehall on the Northside of Dublin in Ireland...
President, Ferdinand von Prondzynski
Ferdinand von Prondzynski
Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski is the Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, Scotland. He is known as a lawyer, a legal academic, a high profile public commentator and a university leader in Ireland and Scotland...
, to do so in order to protect university funding. Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe
Batt O'Keeffe
Bartholomew "Batt" O'Keeffe is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as a Teachta Dála and Senator from 1989 to 2011. He also served as Minister for Education and Science and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation .-Early and personal life:O'Keeffe was born in Cullen, County...
has conceded that there is a possibility of the reintroduction of fees in some form.
See also
- Young Scientist and Technology ExhibitionYoung Scientist and Technology ExhibitionThe BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition , commonly called "the Young Scientist", is an annual competition that has been held in Dublin, Ireland every January since 1965 for encouraging interest in science in secondary and primary schools, currently sponsored by BT Ireland...
- List of universities in the Republic of Ireland
- National Institute for Higher EducationNational Institute for Higher EducationA National Institute for Higher Education was a category of higher education institution established in the Republic of Ireland to provide higher level technical education above the standard of the then established Regional Technical College system but at university level...
- Institutes of Technology in Ireland
- National Institute for Higher Education
- Education controversies in the Republic of IrelandEducation controversies in the Republic of Ireland-Eileen Flynn:In 1982 Eileen Flynn, a teacher, was sacked from her teaching post for being pregnant while unmarried.-Dunboyne Controversy:In 2002, Tomás Ó Dulaing, the headmaster of Gaelscoil Thúlach na nÓg in Dunboyne, County Meath was dismissed after a controversy over religious education in the...
- List of Ireland-related topics
External links
- BlueBrick - HEA Course Portal, Ireland
- Irish Second-Level Students' Union, Connecting Students. Giving Students a Voice.
- Higher Education Authority, Ireland
- International Education Board Ireland
- National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, Ireland
- National Qualifications Authority of Ireland
- www.nightcourses.com - Information resource about part-time courses and evening classes in Ireland
- Study in Ireland - Learning.ie - Information resource about education in Ireland
- The Sunday Times University Guide 2004 - Ireland
- Learningireland.ie - Ireland's National Education Database
- SchoolDays.ie - Online Resource for Parents and Teachers in Ireland
- Study English in Ireland - Online Resource for International Students - Ireland