Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I do not take away from the challenges the Deputy referred to. We have been cognisant of them. The Deputy will appreciate that in the recent budget we announced a €2,000 support bursary for the PME students who will compete in 2024. We also introduced 1,000 posts of responsibility, again to support teachers in their workplace. We provided for free upskilling courses in subjects that present a challenge. We have engaged with student teachers, more than 3,000 of whom have found routes to make themselves available to schools. We have also found pathways forward with retired teachers. There is an increase of more than 49% in the number of retired teachers making themselves available to provide additional supports in schools. We will do more and more in this field. I am not for one minute saying there is no merit to what the Deputy says about additional resources, having regard to the geography. However, the proposal, notwithstanding what the Deputy has said, would validate a cohort living in one area more than another. It would also validate one sector of the public sector more than another. The whole thing would have to be looked at in the round for the public sector.

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