Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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368. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress that has been made on improving job prospects for newly qualified teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13714/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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This Government remains committed to protecting and enhancing the educational experience of children. Despite the difficult economic climate, my Department has been able to protect front-line education services in 2014 by identifying sufficient expenditure savings and efficiencies. This includes provision for additional teachers in primary and post primary schools as well as additional resource teachers for children with special educational needs as announced in Budget 2014.

In the coming years, we are facing massive increases in the number of school going children. Total enrolment in both primary and post-primary schools is projected to grow by over 60,000 between now and 2017 and for enrolments at second level to reach a peak in 2026. I recently announced a significant school building programme to accommodate this increase. This is expected to provide additional job prospects for teachers in the coming years.

However, I am aware there are newly qualified teachers not yet holding teaching positions in schools. Measures have been taken to alleviate difficulties for new teachers, including the introduction of regulations which oblige schools to recruit unemployed teachers ahead of retired ones and the extension of the JobBridge National Internship Scheme to teachers.