Information
All children and young people, including those granted refugee status or leave to remain are entitled to free primary and education. People who have been granted refugee status have the right to access education and training in the like manner and to the like extent in all respects as an Irish citizen. While it is not set out in legislation, people given humanitarian leave to remain in the state are normally conferred with most of the same rights and privileges, including the right to education, as those conferred on refugees.
Primary and secondary education
All children are required to remain in school until they are 16 years of age.
On completing primary education, the students then transfer to post-primary education (or second-level, more commonly called secondary education). They join the Junior Cycle of secondary education, which lasts 3 years. At the end of this cycle, students present themselves for the Junior Certificate Examination. Students then continue into the Senior Cycle, which lasts 2 or 3 years and leads to students presenting for the Leaving Certificate Examination.
Corporal punishment is prohibited in Irish schools. There are extra resources in schools for non-English speaking children. Children may have free access to mother tongue supports.
Adults may have free English language classes and free access to adult literacy which are provided by the local Vocational Education Committee (VEC). The availability and duration of these classes is decided by the local VEC. The 'English for Speakers of other Languages' (ESOL) literacy project supports local VEC adult literacy schemes in their efforts to cater for non-English speakers.
Further education
Refugees, people with humanitarian leave to remain and those with leave to remain as the parents of an Irish-born child are entitled to free access to approved PLC courses. They may also participate in the Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) provided they meet the normal VTOS requirements. You can read more about this by clicking on the following link: http://www.education.ie
Third level education
Refugees and those with humanitarian leave to remain are entitled to free third level (university or college) education if they have been living in Ireland for 3 years or more. They also may be entitled to third level maintenance grants. Information about their entitlement to free fees is on the Department of Education and Skills website. Follow this link for further information: http://www.education.ie
Those with leave to remain as parents of an Irish-born child are not entitled to free fees or maintenance grants.
For further information on any of the above please visit the citizenship information website by clicking the below link :
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/moving_country/asylum_seekers_and_refugees/