De La Salle Dundalk: Fees, Admission, Uniform & Principal

Deciding on the right secondary school for your son is one of those parenting moments where facts matter more than hearsay. For families in Dundalk, De La Salle College is a name that comes up often—a voluntary Catholic boys’ school with deep roots in the community, and this guide pulls together everything parents actually need to know: fees, admission rules, uniform, who’s in charge, and where to find the front door.

Founded: 1954 ·
Type: Voluntary Catholic secondary school for boys ·
Location: Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland ·
Enrollment (approx.): 800 students ·
Principal: Mr. Gerard Purdy

Contact details for the school are as follows:

Is De La Salle a Boys’ School?

School type and ethos

• De La Salle College Dundalk is a voluntary Catholic secondary school for boys during the day. Its admissions policy states that it is “an all‑boys voluntary secondary school under the trusteeship of the Le Chéile Trust” (Admissions Policy 2024).
• The school operates under a Catholic ethos grounded in Lasallian principles—emphasising respect, community, and a holistic education (2024 Prospectus).

Co‑educational Repeat Leaving Certificate

• Since 2022, the school has opened its repeat Leaving Certificate programme to both boys and girls. This is the only co‑educational provision at the school (Admissions Policy 2024).

Bottom line: De La Salle is a boys’ day school with a single co‑educational exception. Parents of sons looking for a single‑sex environment get exactly that; families with daughters can only access the repeat year.

The pattern: the school offers a single-sex environment for most students, with a co-educational option only for repeat Leaving Cert.

Is There a Fee for De La Salle Secondary School?

Voluntary Contribution vs. Tuition Fees

• As a voluntary secondary school, De La Salle does not charge mandatory tuition fees. The 2024 admissions policy explicitly forbids making “payment of fees or contributions (howsoever described)” a condition of admission or continued enrolment (Admissions Policy 2024).
• A voluntary contribution is requested each year to support extracurricular activities, but families cannot be obliged to pay it. The exact amount is not fixed in publicly available documents.

Cost of Books and Uniform

• Parents are responsible for books, uniform, and optional extras such as school trips. The Transition Year programme requires a deposit and a levy, though the school states that financial hardship can be discussed confidentially with the Principal (TY Admission Policy Draft).

The implication: the school is genuinely free at the point of entry, but ancillary costs add up. Budget for uniform (navy blazer, grey trousers, white shirt, tie) and TY levy.

Bottom line: No mandatory tuition fee, but voluntary contributions and TY costs exist. Parents should budget for uniform and optional extras.

How Hard Is It to Get Into De La Salle?

Admission Policy and Criteria

• Admission is based on the 2024 policy, which prioritises Catholic boys from the local parish. Siblings of current students and children of staff also receive preference (Admissions Policy 2024).
• There is no academic entrance exam for first‑year entry—selection uses criteria such as denomination, parish, and family links.

Application Process

• Places are limited; late applications may be placed on a waiting list. The policy was approved by the patron on 24 October 2024 (same policy).

Bottom line: For Catholic families living in the parish, admission is straightforward. Non‑Catholic or out‑of‑parish applicants face tighter competition. No entrance exam removes one barrier but makes parish links the decisive factor.

The catch: parish residence is the strongest factor, even for non-Catholic families within the parish.

Who Owns De La Salle and When Was It Founded?

The De La Salle Order

• The school is owned and operated by the De La Salle Order (Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools), founded by St. John Baptist de La Salle in 1680.

History of De La Salle College Dundalk

• De La Salle College Dundalk was founded in 1954 by the order. The current trustees are the Le Chéile Trust, a grouping of religious orders that governs several Irish schools (2024 Prospectus).

The implication: the school’s ownership ties to a 17th-century religious order, but modern governance is through the Le Chéile Trust.

What Is the New Name for Dundalk Institute of Technology?

DKIT Renamed to Dundalk University College

• Dundalk Institute of Technology (DKIT) is being renamed Dundalk University College as part of a merger with Atlantic Technological University. This is a higher‑education change that does not affect De La Salle College Dundalk, which is a separate secondary school.

Connection to De La Salle Dundalk

• No direct link exists. The confusion arises because both institutions are in Dundalk. De La Salle remains a voluntary secondary school under the Department of Education.

Why this matters: Parents searching “de la salle dundalk” sometimes land on DKIT pages. The two are entirely separate entities—one secondary, one tertiary.

The pattern: the name change is a higher-education event, not affecting secondary school information.

What Practical Details Should Parents Know?

De La Salle Dundalk Uniform

• Navy blazer, grey trousers, white shirt, and school tie. PE uniform details are available on the school website.

De La Salle Dundalk Calendar

• The academic calendar is published on delasalle.ie. Term dates and holidays follow the Department of Education schedule.

De La Salle Dundalk Open Day

• Open day dates for 2025 entry are announced on the website. The school uses a VSware system for parent communication (1st Year Induction Pack 2024‑25).

De La Salle Dundalk Eircode

• The school’s eircode can be found on the official site; the address is Castleblayney Road, Dundalk, Co. Louth.

Who Are the Teachers and Principal at De La Salle Dundalk?

Principal of De La Salle Dundalk

• The principal as of 2024 is Mr. Gerard Purdy (school Parents page).

Teaching Staff

• A full staff list is available on the school website. Subject departments include English, Irish, Maths, Sciences, Languages, Business, and Technology.

The catch: Teacher details are provided for transparency, but direct contact is typically routed through the secretary (secretary@delasalle.ie).

The implication: the principal is the main point of contact for leadership, but day-to-day enquiries go through the secretary.

The following table summarises key specifications.

Upsides and Downsides of De La Salle Dundalk

Clarity Check: What We Know and What Remains Unclear

Confirmed facts

• De La Salle College Dundalk is a voluntary Catholic boys’ secondary school (roll number 63891T) – Admissions Policy 2024
• Founded in 1954 by the De La Salle Order
• No mandatory tuition fee; voluntary contribution only – same policy
• School address: Castleblayney Road, Dundalk; phone 042 9331179 – Parents page
• Admission criteria include siblings, parish, Catholic ethos – Admissions Policy 2024

What’s unclear

• Exact voluntary contribution amount may vary year to year and is not publicly fixed.
• Open day dates for 2025 entry are announced closer to the event.
• Teacher salary scales and specific department breakdowns are not published.
• TY programme requires a deposit and levy – TY Admission Policy Draft
• Principal as of 2024 is Mr. Gerard Purdy – Parents page (may be subject to change)

What Others Say: Quotes from Official Sources

“De La Salle College is a voluntary Catholic secondary school dedicated to the holistic development of each student in a caring, Lasallian community.”

De La Salle College Dundalk Prospectus 2024 (school publication)

“The school is recognised by the Department of Education as a voluntary secondary school under the trusteeship of the Le Chéile Trust.”

Admissions Policy 2024 (official school policy document)

“Entrance to the school is through the Mill Road Gate only; all other gates are strictly for staff use.”

1st Year Induction Pack 2024‑25 (school communication)

For parents in Dundalk weighing school options, the decision is clear: De La Salle provides a well‑established, publicly funded Catholic education without mandatory fees. The main trade‑off is that it remains a boys’ school for everyday classes, and places are tied to parish residence. Families outside the parish or seeking co‑education for sons will need to consider the waiting list or look at alternatives. Either way, knowing the practical details—uniform, costs, open day timing—helps a family move from uncertainty to a confident choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

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