Bring your own toilet paper: Shock email reveals funding crisis at Louth school

Parents of pupils at Darver National School in Louth have been left stunned after the small rural school asked children to bring in their own toilet paper and hand towels.

The issue was raised in the Dáil this week by Louth TD Ruairí Ó Murchú, who read out the email sent to parents by the school principal. The message explained that rising costs and stagnant government grants had left the school unable to cover certain basic consumable items, despite efforts to protect classrooms and teaching from the impact of financial pressures.

Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy Ó Murchú described the situation as “very worrying” and stressed that it was not normal for parents to be asked to provide essential hygiene products. He outlined the challenges faced by the school, which has 71 pupils and six teachers, occupies a building dating back to around 1940, and struggles with outdated heating and rising energy costs. Other costs, including printing, photocopying, and maintenance of outdoor areas, are largely funded by the parents’ association.

The Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Christopher O’Sullivan, responded by saying the situation was highly unusual and not representative of schools nationally. He confirmed that officials from the Department had contacted the school and referred it to the Financial Support Services Unit (FSSU), which provides advice and assistance to schools in financial difficulty.

Deputy O’Sullivan also noted that the 2026 budget includes €39 million in additional capitation funding, which will see primary school rates increase by €50 per pupil, alongside additional support for special schools and DEIS schools. He said these measures aim to ease financial pressure and ensure schools can meet day-to-day costs.

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Deputy Ó Murchú welcomed the response but said there was a need for sustainable support, noting that energy costs and legacy infrastructure issues at Darver National School exacerbate the situation. He said ongoing engagement with the FSSU and the Department of Education is essential to prevent similar situations in the future.