Kildare Among Worst-Hit Counties As Teacher Shortages Hit Special And Disadvantaged Schools

Monday, 3 November 2025 09:36

By Martin Osborne - Head Of News

The findings also reveal that a substitution crisis continues to affect a large number of primary schools.

Over half of all special schools have teacher vacancies, according to a new survey of primary and special schools by the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation.

Meanwhile, schools in disadvantaged areas have three times more long-term vacancies than mainstream schools.

While the new survey on teacher shortages shows a reduction overall in the number of long-term vacancies, it also highlights some stark findings:

56% of special schools have job vacancies, 43% of Gaelscoileanna's reported long-term vacancies, and over 30% of urban Deis schools are looking for teachers.

This is compared to 10% of mainstream schools.

The highest number of vacant posts was in Dublin, followed by Wicklow and Kildare.

Dublin recorded the highest number of vacancies, with 55% of schools experiencing staffing shortages, including 131 long-term vacancies.

Following closely behind, Wicklow had vacancies in 41% of schools, totalling 14 unfilled positions, while Kildare saw 39% of schools with vacancies, amounting to 15 unfilled teaching posts.

The findings also reveal that a substitution crisis continues to affect a large number of primary schools.

56 schools reported that they had 10 or more days where they could not get a substitute in September.