The number of students attending multi-denominational schools at post-primary level exceeded the numbers enrolled in Catholic schools for the first time during the current academic year illustrating the amount of school choice at this level.

Figures from the Department of Education showed there were 201,102 pupils attending multi-denominational schools across Ireland in September, representing 48.3pc of the total.

At the same time, there were 199,292 students in Catholic schools, accounting for 47.8pc of all enrolments at secondary level.

Multi-denominational schools in Ireland outnumbered Catholic secondary schools for the first time in 2018 but until now, enrolments in Catholic schools had still remained higher.

The change was driven by a 4pc increase in enrolments over the past 12 months in multi-denominational schools, with pupil numbers up 7,747.

In contrast, the growth in student numbers in Catholic schools was smaller, at 0.8pc, with a net increase of just 1,519.