Calls to review funding for 'exceptional' rural Kildare national school

A Fianna Fáil TD for Kildare North has called for a review of capitation funding for what he described as an “exceptional” rural school in the county.

Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil was putting the case forward for Scoil na Maighdine Mhuire in Broadford in his contribution to the Dáil on March 25 2026.

Deputy Ó Cearúil said: “Scoil na Maighdine Mhuire in Broadford, County Kildare, an exceptional national school with 60 pupils, is typical of a lot of rural national schools around the country that have a reduction in school numbers and therefore a reduction in capitation.

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“This is posing a challenge for many rural schools. The Financial Support Services Unit has engaged with the school and has essentially used it as a best-case example of a national school doing the most it can with the capitation it has.

“However, there is a clear issue with capitation funding for rural schools with declining school numbers.”

Deputy Ó Cearúil asked that the Department of Education and Youth review the capitation funding for small rural schools to ensure their longevity.

This would prevent the situation, he explained, where schools have to continue fundraising “year in and year out” for vital services such as electricity.

Deputy Ó Cearúil concluded: “It is important to state that this is an exceptional school, with exceptional teachers and exceptional students.”