Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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115. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the action he is taking to deal with the shortage of school teachers at secondary level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8854/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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My Department is aware of the rising enrolments in schools both at Primary and Post Primary level and is forecasting an increase of more than 45,000 primary pupils and 25,000 post primary pupils by the start of the 2017 school year. I have already announced that 20 new primary and 20 post primary schools are to be built to meet those rising enrolments. Alongside the building of infrastructure, we are also preparing for the need to have more teachers in the system. I have already asked the Teaching Council, the professional body for teachers, for advice on the matter of teacher supply and demand.

The Council is currently preparing that advice with the overall goal of ensuring that there is timely information to inform the system generally and planning in my Department. The model must be sustainable and be adaptable to cater for evolving needs into the future. I expect to receive an initial report from the Teaching Council later in the year.