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Wednesday, 26th November, 2025. Vol. 18, Issue 48 • 9A, Crowe Street, Dundalk, Co. Louth Tel: 042 932 0888 | Email: editorial@dundalkleader.com; advertising@dundalkleader.com
‘Nothing changes if nothing changes’ By Paul Byrne
EMILY Scully, the principal of Darver N.S, says that the financial difficulties that her school is experiencing is by no means an exception and is in fact the norm for many many schools across the country. Last week Emily sent an email to parents telling them of the dire financial situation the school found themselves in. In the email parents were asked to send in toilet rolls and hand towels with their children due to a chronic shortage of money in the school. The ‘worrying’ situation was raised by Sinn Féin TDs Pearse Doherty and Ruairí Ó Murchú in Leinster House last week after an email was sent to the school’s parents that put the blame for the
school’s cash crisis firmly at the door of the government. The email said government grants have not increased sufficiently in line with rising costs and the school has now reached a point where they are ‘unable to continue covering the cost of certain basic consumable items used daily by pupils.’ The school which has 71 students and six teachers, is housed in an old building. According to Emily, the heating system is outdated and electricity costs have doubled since last year. Although she didn’t want things to come to this she felt she had to stand up for her school and her pupils by outlining just how bad Fifth year St Louis student Carla McDonnell celebrates a stunning victory things had gotten. at the World Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge in New York. See Page 10. Continued on Page 2