Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 January 2026
1256. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide the figures of attrition rates in Ireland for both male and female primary school teachers for each of the years 2010 to 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2168/26]
View answerEnsuring that every child's experience in school is positive and that they have qualified, engaged teachers available to support them in their learning is a priority area of action for the Government.
There are more qualified teachers than ever working in schools. An analysis of payroll data from March 2025, shows there are 79,225 teachers employed in our schools across the country with 43,221 at primary level including special schools and 36,004 in post-primary schools. This analysis found that over 97% of allocated teaching posts were filled nationwide. Teacher attrition remains low, with fewer than 3% resigning or retiring annually, one of the lowest rates in the OECD.
The Department does hold the data for the period requested and does not collate attrition rates by gender. There is, however, a range of teacher statistics including on gender available on the gov.ie website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/publications/teacher-statistics/#number-of-teachers-by-gender-appointed-to-teaching-posts
I am committed to addressing teacher supply issues; my Department recently approved regulations to allow teachers who qualified overseas to undertake their induction in the State. This will help to encourage teachers abroad to return to Ireland to take up teaching roles. This measure seeks to enhance the supply of NQTs available to schools and is particularly relevant for Irish teachers who have studied and qualified abroad and who may wish to return to the Irish education sector.
In addition, it was announced in 2025 that newly appointed teachers will be able to gain permanency more quickly. Additionally, my Department has introduced a STEM bursary and expanded post-primary teacher upskilling programmes which are in addition to more flexible substitution measures, extended to the current school year.
The Teaching Transforms campaign continues to promote the teaching profession and encourages students to follow a career in teaching. A campaign coinciding with the CAO closing date in February is currently under way. A comprehensive workforce plan for the education sector, a commitment under the Programme for Government, is in development. Additionally, a new project, supported by UNESCO and the EU Commission, will create a strategic plan for managing Ireland’s teaching workforce is part of the workforce planning activity currently underway. This two-year project will involve consultations with key stakeholders to develop recommendations with a report due in 2026.
Teaching is an attractive career choice with 3,600 newly qualified teachers registered with the Teaching Council in 2025 and increases in CAO first preferences for both primary (9%) and post-primary (5%) teaching programmes. Salaries are competitive, starting at €44,879 (primary) and €46,448 (post-primary) and rising to €85,000 under the current pay deal. Around 6% of first-choice CAO applications from 2017–2024 were for teaching, showing steady demand. In 2025, first preferences rose by 9% in primary and 5% for post-primary teaching. 85% of newly appointed primary teachers in 2024/25 are on full-time, mostly fixed-term contracts. Over 75% of new post-primary teachers are employed full-time. 93% of teachers with 5+ years’ experience hold permanent full-time or pro-rata contracts.
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.
