Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Fitzpatrick for raising this important issue. I acknowledge, on behalf of the Government, that we have a very genuine teacher recruitment and retention challenge. I also acknowledge that this is not unique. We are in a period of full employment. There is no sector of the economy in which we do not have labour shortages. Whether it is well-paid jobs or poorly paid jobs, the public and private sectors are affected. When there is full employment, it is hard to recruit and retain staff. As the Deputy mentioned, the trend is certainly not unique to Ireland. The reason Irish teachers and professionals go abroad is that the countries they go to do not have enough professionals either. We see shortages all over the world. Countries such as Australia and the United Arab Emirates - you name it - are short of teachers too.

It is important to put this matter in a factual context. We have 72,000 full-time-equivalent teachers in Ireland. Five years ago, we had 64,000. Therefore, in the past five years we have increased the number of teachers by 8,000. If there is an impression that there are fewer teachers than there used to be or more leaving than coming, it is false. We have gone from 64,000 teachers five years ago to 72,000. That is a big increase in the number employed. We are having genuine success in recruiting and retaining teachers, notwithstanding the challenge that arises and that the Deputy just mentioned.

As of October, the starting salary for teachers stands at €41,000 per year. Across the Border in County Down, not far from where the Deputy lives, the starting salary for a teacher is €27,000 per year. The cost of living in Northern Ireland is lower but it is not that much lower. This gives an idea of what we are doing to make the profession attractive.

On contracts, I am told recruitment and the appointment of teachers are a matter for each school or education and training board, as an employer. Teachers can be recruited on a permanent basis once a school or education and training board is within its authorised allocation of teaching posts and the criteria outlined in the Department circulars on filling posts are complied with.

We have a public sector pay deal. It was agreed not that long ago and voted on by public servants, including teachers. They voted for it by a very large margin. That agreement will come to an end in October. I have no doubt that, come summer, we will want to engage with the public service unions again on the next pay deal. We will certainly be very willing to listen to their suggestions on what we can do in the context of the overall package that will be available.

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