Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 March 2025
265. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education the plans she has to improve pay and conditions for newly qualified teachers so as to make the profession more attractive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14923/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis 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. This remains a top priority.
As with other sectors, while the vast majority of allocated teaching posts are filled, recruitment challenges exist in some schools. To address teacher supply issues, my Department 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 5,621 (13.08%) primary, and 6,006 (17.42%) post-primary allocated teaching posts.
The Department has been working on an analysis of the teacher workforce. Data for March 2024 showed there were over 78,000 qualified teachers employed in Ireland with over 43,000 at primary level including special schools and over 35,000 in post-primary schools.
There are less than 1% resignations in the primary sector each year and 1.6% in post-primary. The number of teachers who retired over the past number of years has varied, with 932 in 2013 and 1,074 in 2023. My Department expects to make these and other data available in the near future.
Measures introduced in recent budgets, included a STEM bursary, a PME fee refund scheme and an expansion of upskilling programmes, which are in addition to workforce planning for teachers and SNAs, reflect the commitment to ongoing investment in the education system?to address teacher supply
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 with on average, 6% of first preference applications either for 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.
The 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.
With regard to pay for newly qualified teachers, pay and workplace reform measures for public servants have been governed by a framework of public service pay agreements for a number of years with the new Public Service Agreement (PSA) 2024-2026 in place until June 2026.
The value of public pay deals to the Government and the taxpayer is ensuring that pay costs are managed in a sustainable and orderly way and in a climate of industrial peace. By and large public pay agreements have delivered on these objectives over the last 12 years. The Government has supported the gradual negotiated repeal of the FEMPI legislation having due regard to the priority to improve public services and in recognition of the essential role played by public servants.
The public service agreements have allowed a programme of pay restoration for public servants to start and new entrant pay has been gradually restored over the years. The previous agreement, Building Momentum, provided for increases of 8.5% to 9.5% over the entire agreement with lower paid workers receiving higher percentage increases. Building Momentum also provided for an additional increment skip for new entrant teachers to further progress their move up the pay scale more quickly. In respect of teacher allowances withdrawn under FEMPI legislation, amendments have also been agreed under collective agreements which have seen the value of certain allowances being integrated into “new entrant” teacher pay. Examples are the equivalent of an honour’s primary degree allowance and the PME allowance for post-primary teachers.
The current pay agreement, PSA 2024-2026, provides for further baseline increases from 9.25% for the highest earners to 17.25% for the lowest over the lifetime of the agreement. The PSA also includes a local bargaining mechanism, equivalent to 1% of the basic pay cost, on September 1st 2025.
The Government is committed to the delivery of quality public services and will continue to approach public service pay in a balanced way that is reasonable and fair to both public servants and to the taxpayer. Any further amendments to Teacher Terms and Conditions, including pay and allowances, can only be achieved through engagement and collective bargaining agreements between the Government and the public service unions or through the Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC) forum.
