Teacher Shortages Hit Wicklow Hard As Special Schools & DEIS Schools Disproportionately Affected

A new survey on teacher shortages has confirmed a consistent and disproportionate impact on special schools, schools in disadvantaged areas and in Irish-medium education especially in Wicklow

A new survey on teacher shortages confirms that the crisis continues to hit special schools, schools in disadvantaged areas, and Irish-medium education particularly hard.

Wicklow, alongside Dublin and Kildare, is among the counties most affected.

The survey, conducted in October by the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) in partnership with the Irish Primary Principals’ Network (IPPN) and the Catholic Primary Schools Management Association (CPSMA), reveals that:

Special schools report the highest long-term vacancy rates at 56%.

43% of Gaelscoileanna, 35% of DEIS Band 2, and 32% of DEIS Band 1 schools reported long-term vacancies, compared to 10% of mainstream schools.

Overall, 565 schools responded nationally. 19% said they could not fill all permanent, temporary, and long-term substitute positions.

In Wicklow specifically, 41% of schools (24 posts) remain vacant, making it the second hardest-hit county after Dublin, where 55% of schools reported vacancies.

Substitution Crisis Persists

The survey also highlights a severe shortage of substitute teachers:

60% of schools reported being unable to source a substitute for an absence.

56 schools recorded 10 or more days without a substitute in September.

283 people without teaching qualifications were forced to carry out substitute work up to mid-October.

Schools often split classes to cover absences, resulting in 735 days of disrupted learning** in the first six weeks of the school year.

Impact on Special Education in Wicklow

Children with special educational needs continue to face the greatest disruption:

Special schools in Wicklow account for 24 unfilled long-term substitute vacancies.

65% of schools had to redeploy Special Education Teachers (SETs) to cover class teacher absences, reducing essential support.

Across the country, there are 150 unfilled part-time hours in 72 schools, mainly in special education.

Vacant Posts on Supply Panels

While supply panels remain the primary mechanism for filling short-term absences, the survey shows 47 vacant posts on panels (out of 590 allocated positions).

Schools continue to struggle to access qualified substitutes, particularly in DEIS schools, special schools, and Gaelscoileanna.

Government in Denial

Despite claims from the Department of Education and Youth that sufficient teachers are available, schools in Wicklow and nationwide are unable to access them.

INTO General Secretary John Boyle said: “The Government’s inaction has left large classes subdivided and essential teaching support missing. Wicklow schools, like many across Ireland, are bearing the brunt of this crisis.”

Calls for Action

INTO is urging the Government to:

• Expand and augment the substitute supply panel.
• Reduce primary class sizes to the European average of 19.
• Provide incentives to attract teachers to special schools, DEIS schools, and Gaelscoileanna.
• Expedite the local bargaining process to make teaching in these sectors more attractive.

Boyle further warns: “Until these measures are implemented, children in Wicklow and across Ireland will continue to face disrupted learning and inequitable access to qualified teachers.”