Joe O'Toole (Independent)

I listened in recent days as the Minister for Education and Science turned statistics on their heads, getting away with murder in the process. It is important to set the record straight. This time last year there were no unemployed teachers in the State and the only way schools could secure substitute cover was by seeking the services of retired teachers in their areas. It was then that the Minister and his Government axed 1,000 teaching jobs in the primary sector and reduced the number of substitute days to be availed of by schools. As a result, hundreds of qualified teachers are unemployed and counting their shillings in an effort to survive.

This week the Minister, using last year's figures, claimed that retired teachers are blocking young teachers from securing positions in schools. That is utterly false, misleading and disingenuous. The Minister must be invited to the House to show how the figures he has provided stack up. The last time I challenged data provided by the Minister was this time last year when I questioned his projections regarding the number of teachers who would find themselves unemployed as a consequence of his decisions. He has had to change his mind about that and withdraw what he said. If he comes into this Chamber, he will be unable to face down the force of argument against what he said. It is unfair to crucify retired teachers, most of whom have no interest in engaging in substitute teaching. A principal teacher in a small school anywhere in the State who requires substitute cover at short notice generally has no choice but to seek assistance from a retired teacher. Qualified teachers who are unable to secure teaching positions are not sitting at home waiting for that type of telephone call; they are working on the checkouts in Lidl and Aldi to earn the shillings to keep them going. That is the reality and it is time the Minister came into this House to face the music.