Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Ó Ríordáin. I reiterate that we are being proactive and very open to working with partners in education for other initiatives. We are open to looking at everything. For example, I record our gratitude to the more than 3,400 trainee teachers who have registered with the Teaching Council and made themselves available for substitute cover in schools. This is a relatively new initiative. There is a significant input and uplift of staff in our schools. We have also introduced other measures. The issue of posts of responsibility is significant. It is consistently raised with regard to encouraging leadership in a school.

I want to be clear about a Dublin allowance. What happens in London has not solved all of the issues there.

The current payment for staff is very similar to what people are getting in London without any additional allowance here. Notwithstanding this, we look at everything, and we are open to looking at everything. It will, however, have an impact on other aspects of society, whether this is in healthcare, An Garda Síochána or whatever the case might be.

See this speech in context