Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As I said, the starting salary is €32,294 for teachers, which is a starting salary of €30,702 with an optional pensionable allowance of €1,592. I am advised by the Minister for Education and Skills that there are nine applicants for every teacher place. At least the decision gives clarity to new teachers and is an improvement on the pay situation of teachers who began employment in February of this year because allowances were all suspended and frozen.

A total of 80% of the current budget of the Department of Education and Skills goes on the pay and pensions of teachers. There is little room for savings. As the Deputy is aware, teaching is one of the few areas within the public sector which does not face a moratorium on recruitment. With a growing school population, opportunities remain for employment. Since September, 355 new primary school teachers and 182 post-primary teachers have received new contracts. That is more than 530 new posts in the teaching sector, which is an important consideration that the Deputy would not mention.

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