A Limerick priest has appealed to churches to sell their gold in order to fund a teaching post. The Department of Education has removed funding for the position in question.

Fr Tony O'Riordan from Moyross has stated that the school is facing the possibility of merging two junior infants classes to make a class of 32, according to RTÉ News.

Fr O'Riordan believes that this will lead to poorer education for the children.

The school board has been forced to pay the teacher privately following the Department of Education's decision to remove funding, however, they have just managed to raise the first month's wages.

The priest has now called on churches to sell their gold and religious goods that have been stored for "the greater good".