Ireland's school system has a fee-paying trap. Don't fall in.
Popular Dublin secondary schools have 1–3 year waiting lists that have nothing to do with the October window. The PPSN must come before enrolment. And Irish is compulsory — unless you know about Circular 0052/2019.
Instant download · PDF, Excel, Word, HTML · Updated April 2026
The fee-paying trap — act immediately
Schools like Gonzaga College, Blackrock College, and Alexandra College are fee-paying and operate entirely outside the October/November admissions window. They have their own processes and waiting lists of 1–3 years. If you are targeting one of these schools, contact them the moment you decide to relocate — not when you arrive.
The data is real. Here's a preview.
23 schools across 5 cities — every entry flags the fee-paying trap, admissions route, and direct contacts.
See what's inside before you decide
Enter your email to unlock a full preview of the Ireland Intelligence Pack — the fee-paying trap directory, Irish exemption kit, and PPSN navigator.
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This is what you actually get.
Three real extracts — the school directory with the fee-paying trap flagged, the Irish language exemption letter, and the admissions cheatsheet. This is the level of detail inside.
⚠️ FEE-PAYING TRAP: Fee-paying schools DO NOT follow the October/November window. Contact popular Dublin fee-paying schools (Gonzaga, Blackrock, Alexandra) IMMEDIATELY on deciding to relocate — waiting lists of 1–3 years.
Pack alert: Jesuit boys' school. Apply as soon as you know you are relocating to Dublin — do not wait for October. Own admissions process entirely separate from the free school window.
Pack insight: ETB schools are fully non-denominational — no religious criteria in admissions. Good option for families not affiliated with the Catholic system. Apply from 1 October for the following September.
All 6 assets. One pack.
23 verified schools across Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, and Waterford — fee-paying trap flagged, admissions routes, direct contacts, and 2026/27 intake windows.
Complete Circular 0052/2019 exemption application — primary and post-primary versions, with the exact legal grounds and a step-by-step guidance column.
Irish exemption application, schoolplace appeal, late-entry request, and fee-paying school direct enquiry — all with insider guidance notes.
Child and adult PPSN routes — the correct sequence, how to avoid the August backlog, and what to do if your appointment is weeks away.
May 8 deadline guide — distance thresholds, 2026/27 fee changes (primary fee doubled), medical card exemption, and what happens if you miss the deadline.
One-page reference: school types, fee-paying trap, Irish exemption facts, PPSN sequence, and transport deadlines — all on one sheet.
The full pack includes 6 assets: CAO timeline, school directory, letter templates, grants guide, late-application guide, and the admissions cheatsheet.
6 resources. One pack. Zero bureaucratic confusion.
School Directory — 23 Schools, 5 Cities
Most requestedVerified profiles for Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, and Waterford. Every entry flags whether the school is fee-paying (and therefore outside the October window), with direct admin contacts and 2026/27 intake status.
Irish Language Waiver Kit — Circular 0052/2019
Unique to this packThe complete exemption application for families whose children were educated outside Ireland. Covers both primary (0052/2019) and post-primary (0053/2019) circulars, with a side-by-side guidance column explaining every line.
4 Letter Templates
Proven templatesIrish language exemption application, schoolplace appeal, late-entry request, and fee-paying school direct enquiry. Each template includes insider guidance notes explaining what each paragraph achieves legally.
PPSN Navigator — Child + Adult Routes
Critical first stepThe correct sequence for getting parent and child PPSNs — why the parent PPSN must come first, how to avoid the August/September backlog, and what to do if your Intreo appointment is weeks away.
Transport Audit — May 8 Deadline
May 8 deadlineDistance thresholds, the 2026/27 fee changes (primary fee doubled to €100), medical card exemption route, and exactly what happens if you miss the May 8 deadline. Most families discover this too late.
Admissions Cheatsheet
Print & keepOne-page reference covering all five school types, the fee-paying trap, Irish exemption key facts, PPSN sequence, and transport deadlines — everything on one printable sheet.
Real results from real families
"We nearly put our son on the Gonzaga waiting list six months too late. The fee-paying trap section in the directory was the most valuable thing we read in our entire relocation process."
"The Irish exemption letter worked first time. The principal commented that it was the most professionally written application she had received. My daughter is now exempt and thriving."
"We had no idea the PPSN had to come before school registration. The navigator saved us from a three-week delay right before the September start."
Quick answers
The Ireland Intelligence Pack
The PPSN, the fee-paying trap, the Irish exemption. All in one place — for the cost of one missed deadline.
- 23 school profiles across 5 cities
- Fee-paying trap flagged on every entry
- Irish language waiver kit (Circular 0052/2019)
- 4 letter templates with guidance notes
- PPSN Navigator — child + adult routes
- Transport audit — May 8 deadline guide
- 14-day money-back guarantee
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