Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Shortages of teachers at primary and secondary level are alarming considering the trust we put in them to educate our children. I am on a board of management and see first hand the difficulties faced by our excellent principal in Schull, Diarmuid Duggan, in securing substitute teachers.

I have been told that many schools throughout west Cork - this is probably replicated across the country - are using SNAs because they cannot get replacement teachers, which is unfortunate to say the least. Many teachers emigrated during the economic downturn and they remain abroad. The Government must introduce an incentive to bring these teachers back to Ireland because they currently have no financial reason to return.

The pay inequality that exists in the education sector is undoubtedly a factor in the crisis relating to the shortage of teachers. This must be addressed by the Government. In particular, there is an extreme shortage of SNAs in Irish-teaching schools and this must be addressed in order to protect the language and give those with physical disabilities a change to learn it. It is important that the Government to consider allowing, on a temporary basis, teachers who job-share to substitute in their own schools on their days off.

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