Investors are seeking to set up a private secondary school in Dublin for children of executives working for large multinationals which would teach an alternative to the Leaving Cert.

Businessman Barry O’Callaghan is behind one of a number of proposals to set up a school that would teach children the internationally recognised international baccalaureate.

The programme is widely accepted for entry into higher education and is recognised by most universities around the world. It is estimated that there are about 1,500 students from international families based in the capital, ranging from children of executives working for large technology firms such as Google to children from the diplomatic community.

Senior officials

Many of these families have found it difficult to access places for their children in prestigious schools.

The IDA facilitated meetings earlier this year among interested parties, though it is not directly involved in any of the proposals. A group led by Mr O’Callaghan is understood to have met senior officials in universities and the Department of Education in recent months to discuss the plans. He has recruited former minister for education Ruairí Quinn as an adviser.

A separate proposal is being developed by the International School of Dublin, a fee-paying school which teaches the baccalaureate to younger children.