Provision for foreign nationals in schools is largely concentrated in vocational, community and Christian Brothers schools.
But relatively few are enrolled in some well-known fee-paying schools in Dublin, according to Department of Education figures.
Last night, the president of the Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI), Tim O'Meara, said that the figures confirmed how "many vocational and community schools are enrolling a higher than average proportion of international students . . . but many others are failing to meet their responsibilities".
Earlier this year, the general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, David Begg, complained that many secondary schools appeared to have a policy of excluding foreign nationals, a charge rejected by the Joint Managerial Board, which manages most second-level schools.
In recent months, the Minister for Education, Mary Hanafin, ordered an audit of enrolment policies in schools amid concerns that some were cherry-picking students and excluding foreign nationals or those with special education needs.
The department's figures for the last school year (2005/2006) show how "non-Irish nationals" account for up to 30 per cent of all enrolments in some vocational and community schools.
At O'Connell School in Dublin's inner city, 114 of the 345 pupils are foreign nationals. Foreign nationals are also well represented in community and comprehensive schools in every county, including community schools and colleges in Carrigaline, Co Cork (103 foreign nationals), Athboy, Co Meath (47), and Ennis, Co Clare (115).
A similar pattern is evident in colleges of education across the Dublin suburbs, including Finglas (60 foreign-national students), Inchicore (119), Rathmines (166) and Dún Laoghaire (193). As expected, a large number are also enrolled in schools in Dublin west and Dublin 15.
Several fee-paying schools in south Dublin have relatively few newcomer children enrolled. These include Gonzaga College (534 enrolled/3 foreign nationals), Catholic University School (440/0), St Michael's (581/2) and Mount Anville (634/0).
But foreign nationals appear to be relatively well represented in a number of other fee-paying schools, including Belvedere College (27), Blackrock College (44), Alexandra College (26) and Castleknock College (54).
Curiously, the department's figures do not distinguish between "newcomer children" who do not have English as a first language and English-speaking students from abroad.
Fee-paying schools in Dublin with a strong tradition of educating English-speaking foreign pupils include St Andrew's (179 non-Irish nationals), St Columba's (133) and Wesley College (43).
The department's figures do not detail the number of non-English-speaking pupils in these schools.
Last night, Michael Moriarty, of the Irish Vocational Education Association (IVEA), representing vocational schools and community colleges, said: "The figures show how our schools are open to all pupils, irrespective of class, creed or nationality."
