Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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135. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of teachers who have retired since 2010; the number of teachers that have been recruited since 2010, by primary and second level in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18652/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Details in regard to teacher retirements and teachers allocated are set out in Table 1 and Table 2. Data in relation to retirements pre-2012 are not held in the same format as for later years so have not been included as they are recorded by date of benefit processed rather than retirement date.

Table 1 – Teacher Retirement 2012-2016

(The second level retirement do not include retirements of teachers from ETBs as their retirement are processed directly by the ETBs).

Table 2 – Teaching Posts Allocated 2012 - 2018

** projected figures to end of 17/18 school year

Teacher Retirements 2012-2016

Retirements are recorded by calendar year. The figures in Table 1 for 2012-2016 (inclusive) are retirements recorded by date of retirement and are published on my Department’s website.

Raw data for 2017 is currently being processed and as such is not available in the format requested by the Deputy. Work is underway to compile the 2017 data in the format similar to that for 2012-2016 and the final figures will be published on my Department’s website later in the year.

Teacher Allocations

Teacher allocations to all schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. The criteria for the allocation of posts are communicated to school managements annually and are available on the Department website.

The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24 (3) of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012).

There are currently 36,900 teachers allocated to our primary schools and approximately 29,550 teachers allocated in our post primary schools. This is an increase of over 2,800 teachers compared to the 2016/17 school year and an increase of over 5,000 teachers compared to the 2015/16 school year.

In Budget 2018 an additional 1,280 teaching posts were announced effective from 01 September 2018 include:

- 545 teaching posts to cater for an estimated 8000 extra pupils in 2018.

- 305 posts to provide for a reduction in the primary staffing schedule from 27:1 to 26:1

- 230 new teachers in special classes and special schools

- 100 new Special Education teachers

- 100 new posts for Guidance

Overall it can be seen that the number of teaching posts allocated has increased between 2012 and the current school year by 4,729 posts at primary level and by 4,176 at post-primary level – a total of 8,905 additional posts.

These additional posts have been successfully filled and I am giving priority to ensuring that the supply of teachers is sufficient to meet the requirements of the system over the coming years. In that regard, following consultation with the Irish Universities Association, I recently announced 380 additional places on post primary ITE programmes for 2018, including 100 at postgraduate level in the priority areas such as foreign languages and Irish.

I have also established the Teacher Supply Steering Group, which is chaired by the Secretary General of my Department. The Group will consider the issues that impact on teacher supply, including: policies and arrangements for schools and teachers that impact on teacher mobility/supply; promotion of the teaching profession; initial teacher education policy, provision, funding and support; and data/research requirements.

The Group will oversee a programme of actions according to strict timelines and clear deliverables to meet important needs. In undertaking its task, the Group will be cognisant of the requirement that all persons wishing to teach in recognised schools must meet the professional registration standards and criteria set by the Teaching Council, which is the professional regulatory body for the teaching.