There are 43 post primary schools offering boarding facilities in Ireland. Only four are exclusively boarding.

More than a third are Church of Ireland schools. Fees range from almost €20,000 a year (Sutton Park School in Dublin) to 4,500 in the case of Dingle's Coláiste Íde, which is part-funded by the State since it was taken over by a parents' group 10 years ago. Here are some of the best-known boarding schools in the country:

Sutton Park School, Dublin (co-educational, day and boarding, CofI) - €19,500

St Columba's College, Whitechurch (co-educational, day and boarding, CofI) - €18,990

Rathdown School, Glenageary (girls only, boarding only, CofI) - €15,000

Blackrock College, Dublin (boys only, day and boarding, Catholic) - €14,500

Clongowes Wood College, Clane (boys only, boarding only, Catholic) - €14,000

Alexandra College, Milltown (girls only, day and boarding, CofI) - €13,800

Glenstal Abbey, Limerick (boys only, day and boarding, Catholic) - €12,650

Kings Hospital, Palmerstown (co-educational, day and boarding, CofI) - €10,956

Franciscan College, Meath (co-educational, day and boarding, Catholic) - €7,700

Coláiste Íde, Kerry (girls only, boarding only, Gaelscoil, Catholic) - €4,500