Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Deputy McConalogue has pointed out some of the issues we are facing in the post-primary sector. It is very hard to estimate how many teachers will retire out of the system and what their specialist subjects are. That will obviously have a knock-on effect. By 2020, we are looking at a 15% increase in the number of students at post-primary level, to a figure of more than 71,000 students who will all be taught particular subjects. We need to ensure the teachers coming out of the training colleges will fill the shortfall caused by those retiring from the system. We need to ensure there is not a shortage of specialised teachers in a particular subject, whether it is history or geography or whatever. The only way we can do that is by getting and analysing the correct data. The Department will have to undertake that.

See this speech in context