Schooldays.ie publishes Ireland’s first major research snapshot for parents of school going children

Key findings from the Parents of Ireland Survey 2026

Positive, balanced parenting: Around 80% of parents describe their parenting style as “balanced”, with almost 77% saying they typically discipline by talking things through rather than using punishment.

Family connection at mealtimes: Almost half of families eat dinner together every day, with a further 40% doing so a few times a week.

Special educational needs and assessments: 28% of parents report that their child has been assessed for specialist educational needs, yet only 8% rate the assessment and support process as excellent, reflecting ongoing concerns about access and waiting times.

Mental health needs are widespread – and services are stretched: Almost a third (over 27%) of parents say their child has needed mental health services such as counselling or psychiatric support. Of those who used services, 58.7% rated their experience of accessing help as poor or terrible, and more than 61% report waiting six months or longer.

Digital life and mobiles: The majority of parents believe the ideal age for a first mobile phone is 11–15, with in excess of half (55%) selecting 13 as the appropriate age. Most children who own phones are in the older age groups, yet many younger children are active on other internet-connected devices such as tablets and games consoles.

Talking about bullying and consent: Most parents report having conversations with their children about bullying and consent, but a third (34%) have not yet discussed alcohol or drugs, despite widespread access to information and peer influence.

Phones in schools: A majority of parents support restrictions or outright bans on phones during the school day, seeing school as a vital opportunity for children to disconnect from social media and focus on learning and face-to-face friendships.

Irish as a compulsory subject: More than half (56.4%) of parents support Irish remaining compulsory for all students, with further support for compulsory Irish up to Junior Certificate. When combined, around three-quarters of parents favour their children learning Irish for most of their schooling.

Family finances under pressure: 22.6% of households say they are struggling financially, underlining the impact of rising costs for housing, food, energy, childcare and educational extras such as grinds.

Appetite for exam reform: Parents express strong interest in reforms to the Junior and Leaving Cert, including more continuous assessment, less high-stakes exam pressure and a fairer points system for students with additional needs or neurodiversity.

Expert reactions to the findings

Give parents a benchmark to see how their own experiences compare with national trends;Provide schools and educators with insight into what families are managing at home;

Support journalists and policymakers with robust, parent-centred data on core issues such as mental health, cost of living, online safety, exam reform and the role of Irish in the curriculum.