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

I thank the Social Democrats for tabling this motion. A recent Teachers' Union of Ireland survey found 91% of post-primary schools experienced teacher recruitment difficulties in the past six months, while 61% experienced teacher retention difficulties. Some special education teachers are being forced to plug gaps in primary school mainstream classrooms. A recent survey by the Irish Primary Principals' Network found 83% of schools, as a last resort, have had to redeploy special education teachers to mainstream classes in order to plug the gaps.

On 29 November 2022, the Taoiseach stated in the House that, as a basic principle, he thought teachers and special needs resources should stay in special needs and "resources should always be ring-fenced for special needs students." On "Morning Ireland" on 30 November 2022, the Minister of State at the Department of Education, Deputy Madigan, said that she has always made it clear in her capacity as Minister of State with responsibility for special education and inclusion that no special education teachers or special needs assistants should be used other than for the purposes for which they were assigned. That is happening, however. It should not be happening but, unfortunately, it is. That is quite clear.

There has been a lot of talk in the Chamber about Dublin, including accommodation and so on. I am on the board of a school. I was chairperson of that board for many years and am now just a board member. I know the difficulties there are in getting teachers. It must be remembered that in rural areas there are often significant travel issues relating to the price of fuel and so on. That is a big issue. It is no wonder we are losing talented teachers and they are going abroad. There are also issues relating to the school capitation grants.

I thank Our Lady of Mercy National School in Bantry, where I attended a debate on Monday. I thank Ms Karen Buckley and Ms Maeve Keane, two of its teachers, and I wish Ms Maria Power the best on her retirement.

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