Limerick school principal raises concerns over 'inadequate' special education teacher resources

David Raleigh

A principal of a Limerick school, said to be located in the “most deprived” area of Ireland, has said that a “grossly inadequate” allocation of special education teachers (SETs) will have “significant repercussions” for the school’s growing number of pupils with special learning needs.

Eoghan O’Byrne, Principal, St Mary’s National School, Bishop Street, Limerick City, said he was “flummoxed” by the 4.6 SET allocation, which he said translates as one SET for every 33.9 pupils at the school. The Limerick principal claimed that “the ratio in every other DEIS school in Limerick City is in the low to mid-20s”.

“Our allocation in 2021/2022 equated to a ratio of 25.3 pupils per SET teacher, but in September 2025, this equates to a staggering 33.9 pupils per SET,” Mr O’Byrne said.

The present allocation of SET at St Mary’s includes an increase of 14.5 hours per week on last year’s allocation.

Mr O’Byrne said this was “grossly inadequate”, given, he said, that the school has experienced a 76 per cent increase in the pupil population to 154 pupils over the past four years: “Our fear is that we have become victims of our own success.”

“It will have significant repercussions on the school’s ability to support its diverse student body, especially those with special educational needs,” Mr O’Byrne said.

“It will strain the school’s capacity to deliver individualised instruction, which is critical for students with learning disabilities or additional needs,” he added.

“Mainstream teachers who are already managing larger class sizes may lack the time or specialised training to address complex needs, leading to reduced instructional intensity and potential gaps in academic progress,” Mr O’Byrne warned.

“For St Mary’s NS, this could undermine its inclusive ethos, hinder parental trust, and challenge its ability to maintain high standards amidst rapid growth,” he said.

“Without additional SET resources, the school risks failing to meet the diverse needs of its expanded population, potentially compromising its reputation as a beacon of quality education in Limerick City.”

Mr O’Byrne said he hoped the Government would not “ignore and fail to deliver for the most disadvantaged community in the country”.

The school principal highlighted that, according to a POBAL Social Deprivation Index 2022, St Mary’s NS is located in the “most disadvantaged area in the entire country (John’s A Electoral Area) with a scoring of ‘Extremely Disadvantaged’ classification”.

Mr O’Byrne said it was his opinion that the current SET allocation system was “flawed”, and he claimed that a school with a very similar profile and with 20 more pupils “has four more SET teachers allocated to their school”.

Mr O’Byrne said that, to try and counteract the SET situation last year, St Mary’s NS used a philanthropic donation to employ a SET teacher, but that this year it was “not in a position” to do this.

He said St Mary’s NS had experienced a “huge influx” of local children as well as “transfers from other schools” due to it providing a wrap-around support model, including autism supports, five-day-a-week therapeutic services, a breakfast club to over 100 children and an after-school extended learning opportunities programme.

“None of these initiatives are supported by or funded by the Department of Education. They are funded by both statutory and non-statutory organisations. The school has been fortunate to secure philanthropic funding sources with multi-annual funding,” he said.

A spokesman for the Department of Education and Youth replied that while it “does not comment on individual cases”, schools can apply to the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) “for a review of their allocation”.

The spokesman added: “The department acknowledges that every school is different, and that schools can experience unique circumstances that may be difficult to reflect in any standardised method.

In correspondence sent to Mr O’Byrne, the NCSE said the SET Review Panel was “not in a position to take into account comparisons to other schools and the NCSE have no remit in the profiling of schools”.

It added: “The Social Inclusion Unit of the Department of Education have responsibility for DEIS. NCSE recommend that you contact the Department of Education.”

The NCSE said “the outcome of the SET Review is final” but that it was “committed to supporting” St Mary’s and that “advisor support will be offered to the school for 2025/26”.