At least 700 children fleeing the Russian invasion in Ukraine have registered with schools in Ireland.

Education Minister Norma Foley said she expects the true figure to be much higher as more people fleeing the violence arrive each day.

Speaking at Trinity Comprehensive in Ballymun this afternoon, Minister Norma Foley said officials from her department are setting up regional teams to help refugees link up with schools.

Five students form Ukraine have already registered at the Ballymun school.

Fourteen and 15-year-old’s Rostik and Anastasia told Newstalk they are very happy in their new school.

“I like the school; it is so nice,” said Rostik. “It is pretty better than in Ukraine. I like it.”

“I am so grateful, and the teachers are so cool,” said Anastasia.

it’s expected as many as a thousand school going children from Ukraine could arrive in Ballymun over the coming months.

Susan Kilpatrick is the vice-principal of Trinity Comprehensive.

“They have been getting to know the students in their class,” she said. “They have been taking part in different activities and projects.”

“They have been using their Chromebooks to help them with the Google Translate – the Duolingo as well.

Minister for Education Norma Foley says they’re setting up regional teams to help Ukrainian refugees link up with schools.

It is a focal point, if you like, for Ukrainian families and their advocates to source places. If the immediate school to them is not in position to provide a school place for them.”

Minister foley hasn’t ruled out using prefabs to accommodate extra children arriving into the system and said officials are working to allow teachers arriving from the war torn country to teach here.