Payroll Snapshot Reveals Scale Of Kildare Teacher Shortages

Monday, 5 January 2026 11:29

By Martin Osborne

Data from the Department of Education shows 93 primary teaching posts and almost 19 post-primary posts in Kildare were unfilled as of March 2025.

New figures show Kildare remains short more than 110 teachers, despite Government claims that recruitment is improving.

Data from the Department of Education shows 93 primary teaching posts and almost 19 post-primary posts in Kildare were unfilled as of March 2025.

The Department said it does not track county-by-county shortages year on year.

Instead, the data is based on a single payroll snapshot.

Only Dublin, Cork and Meath recorded higher totals.

Nationally, almost 1,850 teaching posts were allocated but not filled.

The Department says teacher supply is improving.

It points to a 20 per cent rise in teacher training graduates and a 30 per cent increase in Teaching Council registrations.

It admitted, however, that the Department is currently producing a range of data on teacher supply to improve the "understanding of the teacher supply landscape".

It said that over 3,700 individual school authorities are currently responsible for this process, including boards of management at primary and post-primary schools, as well as Education and Training Boards (ETBs).

As such, the Department of Education and Youth does "not engage directly" in the recruitment of teachers.

Meanwhile, information provided to Kildare North Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly shows that in October 2023, 4,672 teachers - or 3.9 per cent of those registered - recorded no teaching activity in the State.

However, the data does not indicate where those teachers are based, whether they are working abroad, or if they would be in a position to return to teaching in Ireland.