TD pledges to cover cost of teacher’s pay again

Brendan Griffin, a Fine Gael TD for Kerry South, has pledged to continue a long-standing arrangement with a primary school in his locality to donate half his TD’s salary to employ an additional teacher at the school.

The poll topper in 2011, his first outing in a general election, donated half his salary directly to the Department of Finance.

Since June 2012, he has been donating directly to the school to allow an additional teacher to be employed for the children.

In total, he says, he has waived over €200,000 in salary during his first Dáil term — the only TD to make such a commitment.

Mr Griffin said he plans to continue the arrangement with the school beyond the general election if re-elected to Dáil Éireann.

“This arrangement is making a positive difference to the children of the school,” said Mr Griffin.

“I hope to be able to continue the arrangement beyond the election if re-elected.”

At 8,808 first-preference votes, he headed the poll in Kerry South in 2011, ahead of Michael Healy-Rae and sitting Fine Gael TD, now senator, Tom Sheahan. He was elected on count five, having exceeded the 11,100 quota. Mr Sheahan lost his seat.

However, it is widely felt that in the new five-seater Kerry constituency, Mr Griffin will be fighting to retain his position alongside Labour’s Arthur Spring and a second Fianna Fáil candidate.