This week sees the opening of new Educate Together second-level schools in Dublin and Limerick and two national schools in Cork and Dublin.

There are now 84 Educate Together primary and 13 second-level schools in Ireland.

This is the second-highest number of second-level schools that Educate Together has opened in one year - and brings the number of pupils to over 25,000.

The new schools are: Dublin South City ETSS, Firhouse ETSS, Limerick ETSS and Malahide/Portmarnock ETSS.

While new national schools will open across this week and next.

These are in Dublin South City ETNS - currently based in temporary accommodation in Griffith Barracks MDS on the South Circular Road - and in Fermoy, Co Cork - opening under the Government's divestment process.

Educate Together says it was granted patronage of all of these schools on the basis of parental votes.

The organisation says: "The growing number of Educate Together schools outlined above reflects the desire of families to establish schools all over Ireland where all children are welcomed regardless of social, religious or cultural background.

"It reflects also the ever-growing demand for an equality-based education where no one religion or worldview is given priority over another at school."

Educate Together has applied to open a further four more second-level schools in 2019.

The organisation aslo says it expects to apply for 13 national schools due to open next year.

However, the group points out that none of the schools this year will open in their permanent accommodation.

"This is not ideal for any developing school. Educate Together has communicated concerns to the DES regarding the planning and provision of both temporary and permanent accommodation for new schools may times.

"Educate Together hopes that opening new schools in permanent accommodation will become the norm in the future", the organisation adds.