Teacher shortages reach crisis point, says INTO

A severe staffing crisis is threatening the future of primary and special education in Ireland as the teacher shortage deepens. The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) has warned that the ongoing teacher shortage has reached a critical level, leaving many schools, particularly in Dublin and its commuter belt, unable to secure the staff necessary to educate their students.

This escalating crisis stems from the government's failure to adequately plan for teacher supply and the Department of Education’s inaction on key recommendations from the INTO.

A survey conducted by the INTO/IPPN/CPSMA last September indicated that nearly 3,000 long term positions would remain vacant this year.

Figures recently released reveal that almost 9,000 unqualified individuals were employed across more than 3,000 schools at primary level during the 2023/2024 school year.

The INTO is also deeply concerned by the number of unqualified substitutes in schools, with it being yet another stark reminder of the ongoing teacher shortage crisis which continues to place enormous pressure on schools.

Despite presenting concrete proposals to the Department of Education late last year, the INTO says none of these modest proposals have been implemented to date. These include: increased pay rates for retired teachers acting as substitutes, flexibility for teachers to take parental leave in blocks of less than one week, guaranteed summer pay for teachers in fixed-term positions by the first day of the Spring term, a job transfer scheme to incentivise permanent teachers to work in high-population areas, and a targeted international PR campaign to attract overseas teachers.

INTO General Secretary John Boyle has said: "Unless the Government acts now, more children will face disrupted learning, remaining teachers will have to carry an excessive burden, more school leaders will be pushed to breaking point, and the future of primary and special education in Ireland will be in serious jeopardy.”

Proposing the motion, Conchúr Mac Amhlaoidh, Tallaght said: “If we want to attract people to teaching, we need clear, quick salary progression and attractive incentives. Teachers shouldn’t wait years to earn an income which is viable. Restructuring incremental credit, as has been done in other public service roles, would instantly make the professional more viable for young people.”