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

I am glad to be in a position to tell the Deputy that we recruited this September 2,300 additional teachers and plan to recruit 2,400 additional teachers this coming September. Therefore, we are in a phase of expanding significantly the number of people employed in the teacher workforce. As the Deputy knows, with the INTO and TUI we have agreed a significant improvement in the pay and conditions for young teachers starting. A young teacher will see an increase of up to 15% in his or her starting pay, up to €35,600, and a teacher recruited last September will see an increase up to €37,500. Therefore, there are significant improvements. I acknowledge schools face difficulties in finding substitutes. That is a continuing problem but it arises against a background in which we are employing substantially more teachers each year. A study of teacher supply is currently being carried out to ensure we will be in a position to meet the growing demands.

See this speech in context