Last chance for schools to retain or gain teachers in 2025

3rd October 2025

After two years of the Government’s failure to amend the staffing schedule, the number of primary schools losing mainstream teaching posts has reached critical levels.

The final meeting of the Primary Staffing Appeals Board to consider appeals for the 2025/26 school year will be held later this month. The closing date for submission of appeals for this meeting is Friday, 10 October 2025.

The INTO strongly encourages any school that believes it meets the criteria for lodging a staffing appeal to complete the relevant appeal form and submit it as a matter of urgency to ensure it reaches the Department of Education and Youth by next Friday.

There are a number of appeal grounds which include:

  • Exceptional accommodation difficulty

Appendix F (a) – Application to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board for the 2025/26 School Year (Criterion A – Exceptional Accommodation Difficulties)

  • October enrolment

Appendix F (b) – Application to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board for the 2025/26 School Year (Criterion B – Additional Enrolments)

  • Projected Enrolment Post based on additional enrolments after 30 September 2025

Appendix F (c) – Application to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board for the 2025_26 School Year

  • EAL Support

Appendix F (d) – Application to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board for the 2025/26 School Year (Criterion D – English as an Additional Language (EAL) Teaching Posts)

  • Small schools

Appendix F (e) – Application to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board for the 2025/26 School Year (Criterion E – Small Schools)

  • School losing 3 or more posts

Appendix F (f) – Application to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board for the 2025/26 School Year (Criterion F – School losing 3 or more Posts)

  • Alleviating some of the pressure on class sizes at infants’ level for schools that make a significant contribution by absorbing demographic growth.

Appendix F (g) – Application to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board for the 2025/26 School Year (Criterion G – Alleviating some of the pressure on class sizes at infants level)

Appeals must be submitted to:

Primary Teacher Allocations Section,
Department of Education and Youth,
Cornamaddy, Athlone, Co. Westmeath.

Applications must be made using the standard appeal form and must clearly state the criterion under which the appeal is being made. Please mark the envelope “Staffing Appeals.” The DEIS status of a school will be taken into account in any appeal application.

Please note that closing dates will be strictly adhered to. Appeals received after the specified deadline will not be considered by the Board at that meeting.

Full details are contained in DEY Circular 0011/2025.

Members are urged to apply maximum pressure to Government over the weekend by emailing TDs to ensure they receive a clear message: the substantial loss of mainstream teaching posts since 2024 cannot be allowed to continue.

E-Mail your TD today ahead of the Budget here: https://www.into.ie/campaign/budget-2026/

Media Centre