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Kildare TD Raises Issue Of Naas School Without Teacher For New Year

Photo: Pexels

It comes as a new junior infant's class in St Corban's Boys National School is to be without a teacher for the new school year

A Kildare TD has raised the issue of a school in Naas being without a teacher for the new year.

It comes as a new junior infant's class in St Corban's Boys National School is to be without a teacher due to rules in relation to student:teacher ratios.

There is currently 19 teachers, and the school falls below the threshold for a 20th teacher.

Earlier in the year, the Department of Education requested an extra junior infant class for St. Corban's Boys National School, due to an excess of students in the school during the current school year.

However, the Department of Education said it will not be providing an extra teacher.

The school had submitted an appeal to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board, but the appeal was unsuccessful.

Speaking in the Dáil, Kildare North TD for Fianna Fáil Naoise O' Cearúil said that the school had put measures in place to accommodate for the extra class:

"They applied for a grant for furniture and they have a classroom ready, but the department will not allocate a teacher."

The department need to allocate an additional teacher to ensure the 25 children have a school place in September."

In response, Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers said that the staffing schedule is intended to ensure that every school is treated equally:

"It's designed to operate in a very clear and transparent way, ensuring all schools are treated equally regardless of their location." 

He added that pupil numbers have declined in recent years, and says that that is the reason for the extra teacher not being allocated:

"As you know, the enrolment in St Corban's has decreased from 498 in September 2024 to 460 in September 2025, that's the basis of which schools are allocated the teachers."

The full Kildare Today segment discussing the topic can be heard below:

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