Cork Set For Almost 110,000 Pupils As New School Year Begins

Cork will have more children and young people enrolled in school than any county outside Dublin this year, according to new back-to-school figures covering the 2026/27 year. A total of 109,608 pupils are enrolled across the county, made up of 60,500 in primary and special schools and 49,108 in post-primary.

Among them are 6,657 children starting Junior Infants in Cork and 8,231 beginning first year in post-primary school.

Nationally, 965,000 children and young people are enrolled for the coming year, 536,000 in primary and special schools and 429,000 in post-primary. Junior Infants numbers nationally stand at 59,900, up slightly from 58,796 last year, while first year post-primary enrolments are broadly unchanged at 72,900, compared with 72,798 last year.

The figures also show that 34,000 children and young people nationally will attend a special class or special school this year, supported by 23,000 special needs assistants across 129 special schools.

More than 75,000 teachers are employed nationally, including 39,300 in primary schools, 34,600 in post-primary schools and 1,870 in special schools.

Overall education spending for the year comes to €14.1 billion. The largest share, €8 billion or 63 per cent, covers pay for over 112,000 teachers and other staff in schools, education and youth sector. Pensions for 50,800 retired school staff account for €1.7 billion, or 13 per cent, while a further €1.7 billion, 12 per cent, is allocated to around 1,000 building projects on site in 2026 across various programmes and schemes.

Capitation, grants and free school books make up €804 million, or 6 per cent, of the total. School transport for 181,000 students accounts for €641 million, 4 per cent, with the remaining €346 million, 2 per cent, going towards teacher education, curriculum grants and reforms, and department and aegis bodies and other costs.

Cork enrolment breakdown