Private Schools in Ireland: How Many? (2022 Data)

As of 2022, Ireland had approximately 1,850 private (independent) schools. This includes:

• Primary & secondary (fee-paying)
• Montessori, Steiner/Waldorf, and other alternative pedagogies
• Specialist schools (special needs, language immersion, etc.)

Private schools operate outside the state-funded system, set their own curricula (though many follow the national framework), and charge tuition. They're regulated by the Department of Education but not managed by it.

For a current directory, see the Register of Independent Schools maintained by the Department.