Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses. I corrected for the SEC for two or three years back in the day when I was a newly qualified teacher, when I was enthusiastic and thought of all the advantages it would give to me, going onto my CV as I searched for that elusive history and geography job. There lies the problem. Many younger teachers in particular probably see it, or did see it, in terms of the advantages of it and why they might have to do it. The teacher shortages we have mean fewer people are inclined to think they have to serve their time doing this in order that schools might take them more seriously or see they have experience built up in this area. That is reflective of the general teacher shortages we have across the board in various subjects.

In what subjects in particular are we experiencing a significant shortfall? Is it typically the sciences, home economics or the usual suspects? Do the witnesses have any numbers on this?