Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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56. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the growing difficulties regarding shortages of teachers at post-primary and primary schools and the impact that it is having on schools; and the action that she intends to take to address this. [58460/22]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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I blame the national broadcaster for my delay and I apologise for that. The Minister will be familiar with the survey that the Irish Primary Principals' Network, IPPN, published last week during its conference. It found that some 52% of school principals in County Kildare did not have their full quota, 65% in County Dublin and 46% in County Wicklow. Similar problems exist at post-primary. Much of it is caused by the cost-of-living crisis. What does the Department propose to do about it?

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware that some schools are currently experiencing challenges in recruiting teachers and I am conscious of the impact this could have on our schools. Newly qualified teachers, NQTs, represent an additional source of supply. More than 3,600 primary and post-primary NQTs are registered with the Teaching Council this year. In May 2021, the Department published an updated technical report - Developing a Teacher Demand and Supply Model for Ireland 2020-2038. The report projects a decrease in demand for primary teachers to 2036 while at post-primary level the downward trend in demand starts from 2024. Work is ongoing to produce projections of post-primary teacher demand and supply on a subject level basis.

The IPPN, in line with the teacher supply action plan, has developed a portal for the recruitment of teachers to long-term teaching positions. The IPPN also operates a sub seeker, which has almost 12,000 teachers registered with it. Significant additional posts have been allocated to the primary substitute teacher supply panels bringing the total number up to 151 panels.

For the current school year, job sharing teachers may be employed to work in a substitute capacity and the limit on substitute work applying to teachers on career break has been suspended. Third and fourth year student teachers can now register with the Teaching Council and more than 2,100 student teachers have applied for registration.

At post-primary level, the Department has recently put in place a scheme that allows teachers teach additional hours in their subject area over the usual 22-hour weekly limit, up to a maximum of 20 additional hours per term. Furthermore, retired teachers who maintain their registration can provide substitute cover and the Department has agreed a waiver of abatement with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for such teachers. The Department runs a comprehensive programme of work to support the supply of teachers and engages closely with the school management bodies and other education stakeholders.

Higher education institutions, HEIs, have developed new four-year initial teacher education undergraduate programmes in a number of post-primary priority subjects, including Irish, mathematics, computer science and modern foreign languages.

I wish to advise the Deputy that the process for the approval of the intake on the primary bachelor of education, BEd, programme and professional master of education, PME, programme for the 2023-24 academic year has commenced and the State-funded HEIs will be advised of this shortly.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Many of those measures are for the longer term. The Minister will tell me it is the job of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage's, which it is but some of this problem to the fact that teachers cannot afford to rent or get a mortgage in or around Dublin, Cork or Galway, and a whole-of-government approach is required. Regarding what the Department of Education and the Minister can do, much of what she referred to was at primary level whereas some of the most profound issues are at post-primary level. There are schools in Dublin and surrounding areas that telling parents that they cannot offer certain subjects that they offered for years because they cannot get teachers. One thing that the Department can do is to release more positions so that teachers who work on a part-time basis can work full time and teachers who are not on a permanent contract can be given one. Is this something the Department is examining?

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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We need to look at this in the round. We have seen significant changes, enhancements and improvements in education over the past two years both at primary and post-primary level. For example, at primary level, over the past three budgets we ensured that there has been a reduction in the pupil-teacher ratio. It is an historic low of 23:1. We have ensured that all teaching principals have at least one administration day in respect of leave. Where schools have a teaching principal and two or more special classes, they are automatic administrative principals. All that is positive and proactive. It needed to be done and has been welcomed by all. It does have an impact. To compensate for that and the requirement for additional teachers, we have proactively looked at measures. We have lifted restrictions around job share, career break and retired teachers. More than 800 retired teachers came on stream last year. There are other initiatives. The Deputy referenced the post-primary sector. We have introduced the share a teacher model under which teachers can be shared between schools. There are upskilling courses at post-primary level that are fully funded by the Department in key areas. We are beholden to our third and fourth year student teachers who can now register with the Teaching Council. More than 800 Hibernia students will come on stream and that is only one HEI when it comes to availability to work in the coming weeks.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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The Minister answered several other questions but she did not answer the questions I asked regarding additional positions. I do not believe that is necessarily what will resolve it at primary level but I am talking particularly about post-primary level where some teachers work on a part-time basis and others do not have a permanent contract. If they can be offered a permanent or full-time contract, they will stay with the schools and they can be recruited, particularly in the areas where there is significant pressure.

We are coming into the Christmas period and teachers will be coming back from the Middle East, Britain and elsewhere. I would say that many of them would like to stay. The Minister will recall that her predecessor on a visit to the Middle East some years ago was told by a teacher that they wanted to come back immediately and asked whether they could be given a permanent contract. As I understand it, that will not be the case. If the teacher asked the Minister whether she could give him or her a permanent contract, that would still be the case. Can the Minister consider permanent contracts and contracts of indefinite duration for teachers who are returning from abroad this Christmas?

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy has to concede that we have looked at a variety of different methods. We have been proactive in this area, notwithstanding the challenges in teacher supply. In the interest of balance, the issues being faced in the education sector are not unique. We are seeing similar issues in other sectors whether it is hospitality, retail, healthcare or whatever. This is the position we find ourselves in at this time. We have an unprecedented climate internationally and all the other issues.

We have examined a number of measures and put measures in place. I am open to looking at all measures. We have a positive contracts of indefinite duration, CID, programme in place, which is a positive move for staff, and we keep everything under review. I am happy to do that.