Written answers

Wednesday, 2 May 2018

Department of Education and Skills

Teacher Data

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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97. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has carried out an investigation of the number of Irish qualified teachers at primary and post-primary level who are teaching abroad; the countries in which such teachers are working; and his plans to contact such teachers with a view to attracting them here to fill shortages in specific subject areas or in teacher supply generally. [19187/18]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, I convened the first meeting of the Teacher Supply Steering Group, which is chaired by the Secretary General of my Department, on 26th March 2018. The Group met again last week.

The Steering Group is considering the issues that impact on teacher supply, including: data/research requirements; policies and arrangements for schools and teachers that impact on teacher mobility/supply; initial teacher education policy, provision, funding and support; and promotion of the teaching profession. A number of working groups will convene in the coming weeks to progress issues under these heading and the use of targeted campaigns to promote the teaching profession, including campaigns targeted at teachers teaching abroad, will be considered in that context.

The Steering 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.

There are strong career opportunities in teaching in Ireland due to the increasing number of permanent full-time positions, providing greater scope for graduates to obtain permanent employment. Additional investment has allowed the successful recruitment of over 5,000 additional teachers in the last two years. Since 2012/2013, there are 8,900 more teachers in our schools. No other part of the public service has seen growth on this scale, which is testament to the Government’s commitment to, and the importance of education in, fulfilling our national ambitions.

According to HEA graduate destination figures, the significant majority of graduates from post primary teaching programmes in 2016 were in employment and of these the large majority were employed in Ireland: 88% of graduates of undergraduate programmes were employed, of whom 85% were employed in Ireland and 90% of graduates from the PME were employed, of whom 90% were employed in Ireland.

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