Planning area in Dublin

Balbriggan

Schools in County Dublin in this planning area.

Other planning areas in Dublin Lucan · 17 Killester–Raheny–Clontarf · 26 Cabra–Phibsboro–D7 · 22 Ballinteer–Stepaside–DLR · 16 Swords · 15 Tallaght · 18 Drumcondra–Marino–Dublin1 · 25 Donaghmede–Howth–D13 · 16 Firhouse–Oldbawn · 16 Dunlaoghaire · 14 Sallynoggin–Killiney–DLR · 15 Rathfarnham · 11 Clondalkin–D22 · 12 Dolphin's Barn–D12 · 17 Blanchardstown–West–D15 · 7 BlanchardstownVge–D15 · 11 Dublin–8 · 16 Dublin6–Clonskeagh · 13 Newcastle–Rathcoole · 8 Goatstown–Stillorgan–DLR · 10 Beaumont–CoolockD5 · 10 Dublin–6w · 7 Dublin2–Dublin4 · 12 Ballyfermot–D10 · 11 Rush&Lusk · 8 FinglasEast–BallymunD11 · 10 Mulhuddart–Tyrrelstown–D15 · 7 Malahide–Nevinstown · 5 Whitehall–SantryD9 · 10 Carpenterstown–D15 · 3 Booterstown–Blackrock · 6 Portmarnock · 5 Skerries · 8 Castleknock–D15 · 4 Scribblestown–FinglasWest · 10 Donabate · 4 Palmerstown–Ronanstown–D20–22 · 6 Ballybrack–Shankill–DLR · 5 Darndale–D17 · 5 Kilternan · 3 Ashbourne · 3 Blessington · 1

Schools: 11; of 459 in Dublin
Pupils: 3,540; 3% of Dublin's pupils
Since 2015/16: −14.3%; 4,133 pupils in 2015/16
Average school size: 321.8; Dublin: 289.6
Average class size: 22.29; Dublin: 22.23

Trends in Balbriggan

Each year counts the schools in this planning area today, plus any that closed from 2023/24. Dotted lines bridge 1983/84 to 1992/93. 1974/75 is left out because that year's source file is missing five counties.

Earlier years are incomplete

The Department's files only record planning areas from 2023/24, so schools that closed or amalgamated before then aren't counted in any area. The further back you go, the more pupils are missing, and an amalgamation can look like a sudden rise. Across County Dublin, schools with no planning area had 1.5% of pupils in 2015/16, 5.3% in 2005/06 and 36.8% in 1975/76. Known data issues

Pupils

3,540

−81 on 2024/25

1975/762025/26

Schools

6 in 1975/76

1975/762025/26

Average pupils per school

321.8

173.3 in 1975/76

1975/762025/26

Average class size

22.29

−0.22 on 2024/25

2006/072025/26

Pupils in these schools

Junior infants, girls and boys, and Irish-medium schools over time, for the same schools as the trends above.

Area figures by year (CSV) Each school by year (CSV)

Junior infants

Pupils starting school each year. Class-by-class figures start in 2020/21. 374 in 2025/26, +4 on 2024/25.

Girls and boys

From 1976/77: earlier files don't split every school's pupils into girls and boys.

Irish-medium schools

Pupils in schools that teach all subjects through Irish (1 school today). 306 pupils in 2025/26, 8.6% of the area's pupils, against 11.3% in 2015/16. Each school counts under its current classification for every year.

Growing and falling since 2015/16

Each school's change in pupils over 10 years, from 2015/16 to 2025/26. A change of 10% or more either way counts as growing or falling.

Every school's change

10 schools with figures for both years

Schools still filling their classes in 2015/16, and schools opened since, are listed separately.

6fell by 10% or more

3within 10%

1grew by 10% or more

Down 25% or more · 1Down 10 to 25% · 5Within 10% · 3Up 10 to 25% · 0Up 25% or more · 1

Sort the table below by the change column to see which schools grew or fell most.

Newer schools

1 school still filling its classes in 2015/16 or opened since, with 362 pupils. It isn’t in the figures above.

Scoil ChormaicBalbriggan · opened 2010/11 362

Class sizes

Mainstream class groups only. The source does not identify which standard/year group each class group belongs to.

Average class size: 22.29
Mainstream classes: 154
Classes of 30 or more: 2
Schools with a class of 30+: 2

Teachers

Teachers in the 11 mainstream primary schools here, 2006/07 to 2025/26. Class teachers are counted every year; all teaching posts where they're known.

How we count teachers

Class teachers in 2025/26: 154; Up 75 since 2006/07, while pupils rose 59%
Teaching posts in 2025/26: about 253; Estimate: 154 class teachers, 11 principals and deputies, 71 special education and 17 special class teachers
Teachers in 2015/16: 242; The Department's last count of every teacher
Since 2024/25: 1 / 3; 1 school gained a class teacher, 3 lost one

Class teachers since 2006/07

One for each mainstream class, every school year

Special schools and special classes

0 special schools in Balbriggan, and the special classes in the 11 mainstream schools. Special schools aren't counted in the pupils, class sizes or teachers above.

All special schools

Pupils in special schools: 0; No special school here
Special classes in 2025/26: 17; In 7 of 11 schools. 13 in 2021/22
Allocated for 2026/27: 20; In 9 schools: 3 new classes, 2 schools with their first
Autism classes: 14; 82% of special classes

Special classes since 2021/22

In Balbriggan's mainstream schools, from the NCSE's yearly lists

2021/22 13
2022/23 16
2023/24 16
2024/25 17
2025/26 17
2026/27 20

2026/27, dashed: allocated for next year.

Sources: Department of Education enrolment lists; NCSE special class lists and special school allocations (CC BY 4.0).

Schools

11 schools, largest first.

Change over

Select a column heading to sort

	Roll number
St Molaga Senior NSBalbriggan	16970A	422	−5.6%	17	23.76	28	0
Bracken Educate Together NSBalbriggan	20282B	375	−8.1%	19	18.79	24	0
S N Naomh TeresaBalbriggan	19515O	364	−14.8%	16	22.31	28	0
Scoil ChormaicBalbriggan	20269J	362	−15.2%	16	21.19	26	0
S N Peadar agus Pol NBalbriggan	16972E	357	−24.5%	15	23.80	27	0
Balbriggan Educate Together NSBalbriggan	20202A	356	−10.8%	17	20.94	23	0
St Georges N SBalbriggan	15315J	339	−16.3%	13	24.69	28	0
Gaelscoil Bhaile BriginBaile Brigín	20252P	306	−34.2%	14	21.00	28	0
Blessed Oliver N SBalbriggan	17569E	298	−13.1%	13	22.92	28	0
Balscadden N SRing Commons	09492W	198	−9.6%	8	24.75	30	1
S N na hAilleNaul	01170G	163	+35.8%	6	25.17	31	1