Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am aware that some schools are experiencing difficulty in recruiting adequately qualified substitute teachers. I am committed to examining all possible means of addressing that issue. In overall terms, however, the Department has no evidence of a recent or current shortage of primary teachers. There are many different variables that affect the supply and demand for teachers in our schools, such as the number of new graduates, the number of retirees, Government policy on the pupil-teacher ratio and so on. Deputy Burton is aware of these factors.

In 2015, a one-year reduction in the number of newly qualified teachers graduating from the higher education institutions materialised due to the reconfiguration and extension of the programme of initial teacher education from three to four years. This may have contributed to a reduction in the supply of teachers at primary level. A little over 3,500 graduate teachers registered with the Teaching Council last summer. Another important factor to take into account in this area is that the entire thrust of policy under the previous Government, in particular the relevant Ministers at the time, Mr. Quinn and Deputy O'Sullivan, was to ensure that to the greatest extent possible young teachers at the start of their careers, including unemployed teachers, were given priority when it came to recruiting substitute teachers. Obviously, that is putting some pressure on supply. In recent years, with the improving economic environment, we have been able to step up the pace of recruitment of teachers. This September we recruited 2,260 new teachers. Next September we intend to recruit 2,400, more than double the number possible in recent years.

The Department considers it important that the supply of teachers with the required qualifications is adequate to meet demand at primary and post-primary level. The Teaching Council Act gives a specific statutory role to the Teaching Council to advise in that respect. The council has been asked to consider the matter of teaching supply. The council has set up a technical working group. The working group is examining a series of issues. The aims of the working group include developing and piloting a model of teacher supply that would seek to ensure a sufficient supply of teachers to meet demand; formulating advice on teacher supply for consideration by the Teaching Council; considering the analysis of data held by the council and the Department in developing the pilot model of teacher supply; and generating policy recommendations on teacher supply for consideration by the Teaching Council. In parallel with that reform, the relevant education stakeholders were consulted regarding the emerging recommendations during the process. Feedback from this group was considered by the working group in its deliberations and in the development of the final report. I expect the report to be published in due course. The report includes recommendations specific to the supply of teachers. I expect the Department to be in a position to progress consideration of the report in the near future.

I will specifically ask that the issue of substitute supply be examined in that context because of emerging difficulties. We will look at various suggestions that might ease the short-term pressure.

The question of whether a panel will be established was put forward. At the moment there is a good network that uses rapid website communication. As the Deputy rightly pointed out, it is not always successful. Whether the Department could improve on that would be an issue that would have to be considered.

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