Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

There is a scarcity of teachers all of a sudden. It has something to do with the postgraduate courses which are now two years instead of one. The cost then deters students because it costs around €15,000 to do it. Take the example of a young fellow from Kilgarvan or Kenmare, and I know one to whom this has happened. It is impossible to do the course without having a car since part of it involves going to a selected school, it could be Bandon, Clonakilty, or Kenmare or anywhere. A car is needed to go from the house to college. I know of one fellow who got a place on the course and everything but he was unable to get insurance for the car. He did not go ahead with taking his place on the course. That is one example of what is happening.

Conditions in Dubai are far better than here. They are paid better wages and are flown home once or twice a year. Ireland is not competing because the teachers are not being paid enough.

Many students have decided that teaching is not the way to go because of the wages and everything that it takes to become a teacher. If they stay in accommodation in Cork or Limerick, say, it costs over €100 every week and then there is €12,000 for the course. When all that is added up, it gives a reason why many students are not going into teaching.

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