The recent release of preliminary findings from the Primary School Education Survey, based on responses from more than 240,000 households, points to a notable shift in public attitudes toward primary education in Ireland.

Significantly, over 40% of parents with children attending Catholic schools expressed a preference for a secular education. At a time when more than 90% of primary schools in Ireland remain under religious patronage, these findings raise important questions about parental choice, inclusivity, and the future direction of the education system.

In addition, the survey found that:

• Approximately 73% of parents with children in the 276 single-sex primary schools support a move toward co-education.
• Around 87% of parents in English-medium schools favour maintaining English as the primary language of instruction.

The full survey data has not yet been released. The Minister for Education has indicated that results will be shared with schools at a local level for implementation, although it remains unclear how this process will be carried out in practice.

The preliminary results can be accessed here: Primary School Survey