Life in Ireland

Ireland, also known as the Republic of Ireland, is a nation in northwestern Europe with 26 counties. Dublin, located on the eastern half of the island, is the island's capital and most populous city. Greater Dublin is home to around 40% of the country's population of 5 million. Ireland has one of the top qualities of life rankings worldwide as a developed nation. Several national performance indicators, such as healthcare, economic freedom, and press freedom, also indicate that the country performs admirably. Ireland holds membership in the European Union and is also a founding member of the Council of Europe and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

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Climate

 

Ireland's weather patterns are influenced by both the ocean to the west and the warm currents of the Gulf Stream to the east. Temperatures vary from region to region, with the central and eastern regions tending to have more extreme conditions. Temperatures in the winter rarely drop below -5 degrees Celsius (23 degrees Fahrenheit), and summertime highs rarely exceed 26 degrees Celsius (79 degrees Fahrenheit) due to the moderate oceanic climate.

 

Transport 

 

Rail: Irish Rail is the operator of Ireland's national rail network. It operates all of the country's intercity, commuter, and freight rail services. Dublin is the hub of the network, with two major stations, Heuston and Connolly, connecting to the country's major cities and towns. Dublin and Belfast are linked by the Enterprise service, which operates jointly with Northern Ireland Railways.

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Road: Transport Infrastructure Ireland manages motorways, national primary roads, and national secondary roads, while the appropriate local authorities administer regional roads and local roads. However, motorways connect Dublin to other important Irish cities, including Cork, Limerick, Waterford, and Galway.

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Air: Ireland's three primary international airports, Dublin, Shannon, and Cork, offer several European and intercontinental routes by scheduled and chartered flights. The flight route between London and Dublin is the busiest international aviation route in Europe and the ninth busiest in the world.

 

Education

 

There are three levels of schooling in Ireland:

• primary education

• secondary education and 

• higher education 

The education systems are primarily directed by the government through the Education Minister. Recognized elementary and secondary schools are required to adhere to the curricula specified by the appropriate officials. Education is mandatory between the ages of six and fifteen, and all children up to the age of eighteen are required to finish the first three years of secondary school, including one Junior Certificate examination.

There are approximately 3,300 primary schools, around 1000 secondary schools and about 38 Higher Education Institutions, including the constituent or linked colleges of seven universities, plus other designated institutions of the Higher Education and Training Awards Council.

 

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