Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The ramifications are that we have schools that are not being staffed and staffrooms that are struggling to keep schools operational. Circumstances are not the same across the country because housing and childcare in Dublin are much more expensive. Everything in Dublin is much more expensive. The cost of living is much more expensive. As has been recognised in London, such costs have a knock-on effect on the availability of staff to run basic public services. I suggest that teaching is the most important service that we provide to society, bearing in mind children's day-to-day activity and how they view themselves and their cohorts. If we cannot staff schools, it means an absolute crisis. This is an issue in Dublin particularly because of the high cost of living. The issue is that we will have circumstances in which schools will not be staffed and children will not be taught effectively, resulting in the discontinuation of the precious connection between children and their teachers. That will have ramifications in the future. If teachers cannot afford to live here, we and the Government have to address it.

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