Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 67: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on a situation (details supplied) regarding primary teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26461/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Anecdotal evidence indicates that there is an over supply of teachers and that there are newly qualified teachers not yet holding teaching positions in schools. The full extent of over supply is not yet known.

Historically, my Department has endeavoured to manage the supply of trained primary teachers in an effort to achieve some equilibrium between the supply of and the demand for trained teachers. However, fluctuations inherent in the supply and demand equation dictate that the attempt to match supply with demand cannot be an exact science.

In light of concerns expressed, my Department has introduced a circular which obliges schools to recruit unemployed teachers ahead of retired ones, in an effort to ease the difficulties for those who cannot find work in the profession. My Department is also engaged in discussion to extend the JobBridge National Internship Scheme to teachers and I hope to issue a circular to schools in the near future. This will provide newly qualified teachers with opportunities to undertake the necessary teaching duties to complete the process of probation and fulfil the requirements for full registration with the Teaching Council.