Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is also clear that we have become a leader in the development of ICT services, and that is likely to continue. It is important we have teachers in the STEM subjects.

It is important to identify the skills gap. If we are to attract new teachers to take up these types of positions, we must bear in mind that they will have many other opportunities available to them and will be subjected to other pulls in the employment market. For this reason, ensuring an adequate supply of teachers will be a challenge. While the Minister stated he will consider a number of measures, a comprehensive approach is required and the Government must introduce policies to ensure teachers in these subjects are available when needed and a crisis does not develop in the system.

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