Mr. Ed Byrne:

I wish to add a number of points. The nature of the entry to the profession is dysfunctional. Even those seeking to register with the Teaching Council are finding it difficult to get the necessary 300 hours experience that allows them to become registered teachers. That is a difficulty.

We were asked about our strategy on short-term working, casualisation and entry to the profession when we were going into pay talks. One of the first things that could be done is an examination of the pupil: teacher ratio, which rose as a results of cuts. The cuts also affected guidance counsellors which were ex-quota posts. There are areas in which we could free up more space for younger teachers coming into the system. We have all heard the arguments in recent days about the right to continue to work after the age of 65 years, but my pet issue is that there is no step-down in teaching. A classroom teacher does 22 hours right up to the cliff face of 65 years of age, if one wants to work to that time and then one retires. There should be a step-down that would allow people to withdraw from teaching and take a mentoring or an administrative role in the schools for a period of time while younger teachers come on board to do their 300 hours which they require for registration with the Teaching Council. There is a lot to be done in the education sector, without even touching things like the Ward report and so on, which the people whom I represent are currently barred from.