The Government has called on all parents to participate in a new national survey being carried out by the Government, which asks for their views on the type of primary school they would like their child to attend.
The survey, the largest of its kind, invites parents and guardians of all children from birth to 12 years old to share their preferences on ‘school ethos’, including whether they would like a religious or multi-denominational setting.
It also asks for views on co-educational or single-sex schooling, as well as whether parents would prefer English or Irish as the main language of instruction.
Speaking about the initiative, Minister James Browne, TD for Wexford said:
“It is essential that the provision in our education system reflects parents from Enniscorthy to New Ross want for their children.”
“It is key that we hear from parents about the best routes in education for their children. They should have a meaningful say in the ethos of their schools, the environment in which their children learn and the language in which they are taught.
“This survey provides a valuable opportunity for parents to have their voices heard.
“To me, we have to be in a scenario where the educational offering meets the real needs of our young people, not defined just by a ‘this is how we’ve always done it’ mentality towards the school system”.
This is the first time that parents, guardians, teachers and school board members across every primary school community in Ireland will be able to clearly express what type of school they wish to see in their area. A separate questionnaire will also gather the views of teachers and members of boards of management.
The survey is open from today 16th December 2025 and can be completed online atwww.gov.ie/primaryschoolsurvey.
