Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 March 2025
263. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education the measures she will take to address the ongoing issue of teacher shortages, particularly in key subjects such as Irish, mathematics, and modern languages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14921/25]
View answerThis Government is fully committed to ensuring that every child has a positive school experience, with access to qualified and engaged teachers who are dedicated to supporting their learning.
A number of measures to support schools to recruit teachers registered to teach Irish mathematics, and modern languages have been implemented including:
• Budget 2024 included the expansion of upskilling programmes in post-primary, free to teachers, aimed at increasing the number of qualified teachers in high-demand subjects and reducing out-of-field teaching. New programmes in Irish, French, politics & society, and computer science will commence in 2025 and complement existing programmes in maths, physics, and Spanish. Trinity College Dublin will deliver the new Irish upskilling programme for post-primary.
• Budget 2025 announced a bursary for student teachers to increase the number of qualified STEM (including science, maths, chemistry, physics, engineering) teachers in post-primary schools. The bursary, a €2,000 payment each year for the final two years of their undergraduate initial teacher education programme, is contingent on a commitment to complete a minimum 2 year’s post-qualification teaching service in a recognised post primary school.
• Budget 2024 also introduced a €2,000 bursary-style fee refund for teachers graduating with a Professional Master of Education (PME) in 2024. This payment, to be made in 2025, aims to encourage newly qualified teachers including post-primary teachers to take up teaching roles. A circular issued in September from my department setting out the eligibility criteria and a portal opened for applications at the end of January this year.
As with other sectors, recruitment challenges exist in some schools. To address teacher supply issues, The Government has implemented several measures that have led to:
• an increase of 20% in Initial Teacher Education graduates (student teachers) between 2018 and 2023, and a 30% increase in the number registered with the Teaching Council since 2017, and
• Between 2018 and 2024 there has been a significant increase of 6,006 (17.42%) post-primary allocated teaching posts.
• In addition, a project, being undertaken by UNESCO, supported by the EU Directorate-General for Structural Reform Support, began in October, focusing on strategic workforce planning for teachers in Ireland. UNESCO will engage with stakeholders over the two years of the project to develop recommendations for a strategic workforce plan for teachers.
• the Teaching Transforms campaign continues to promote the teaching profession and encourage students to follow a career in teaching. Promotion campaigns have been developed to coincide with the CAO closing date and change of mind deadline in recent years.
In addition, a range of teacher education actions are funded by the department under the Policy on Gaeltacht Education to increase the supply of teachers available to teach effectively through the medium of Irish in Gaeltacht and Irish-medium schools.
• Funding is provided for an Irish-medium B.Ed. for primary teachers, which is delivered by Marino Institute of Education. Two cohorts – 68 students in total – have graduated from this programme since its establishment in 2019, and 165 students are currently enrolled on the programme.
• Funding is also provided for an M.Ed. in Irish-medium and Gaeltacht Education for practicing teachers and school leaders and this programme is currently being delivered by Trinity College Dublin. 48 students are enrolled on this programme for the 2024-2025 academic year.
• Two seconded teachers and COGG bursaries have also been provided to support the Máistir Gairmiúil san Oideachas (Irish-medium PME for post-primary teachers) in the University of Galway since 2017. 55 students are enrolled on this programme for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Teaching is an attractive career choice:
• With 3,700 newly qualified teachers registered with the Teaching Council in 2024 and over 126,000 now on the register.
• Analysis of CAO applications spanning from 2017 to 2024 indicates a sustained and robust demand for undergraduate teaching programmes. On average, 6% of first preference applications during the period from 2017 to 2024 were for either primary or post-primary teaching programmes. First preference data from the CAO published recently showed increases in primary first preferences of 9% and in post-primary of 5%.
• The new pay deal will mean that teachers’ starting salary will increase to €46,000 rising to a maximum of €85,000 per year which compares well internationally.
My Department frequently consults and engages closely with stakeholders on issues such as teacher supply through industrial relations forums, sectoral meetings, and direct discussions with teacher unions.
I am considering further measures to strengthen the teaching workforce and ensure that schools have the support needed to provide an excellent education for every student.
