Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The citizens and students of this country will be disappointed to hear that the Minister is again falling back on retired teachers, because that has created controversies over the past number of years. If that is the Minister's answer to this problem, it is deeply unsatisfactory and very worrying. This is a serious issue.

The Minister said his Department does not have evidence, but there is significant anecdotal evidence. Any teaching organisation or principal will tell the Minister that there is a major problem. They simply do not have the teachers they need.

Career breaks are being refused left, right and centre. This is not central Government policy, rather it is a practical reality for school principals at second level. If they advertise a career break post, which is temporary, they will not get any applicants, except perhaps for business studies. They would rather have a teacher leave a school completely and advertise a new role.

Things are at crisis point. Principals are engaged in a balancing act. Teachers are not available for key subjects. The problem is very serious in gaelcholáistí freisin, mar nach féidir leo múinteoirí a fháil a bhfuil Gaeilge ar a gcumais acu na hábhair uilig a mhúineadh.

It is a problem throughout the system. The principals to whom I have spoken are worried about what will happen next September.

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