Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
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686.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to a teacher shortage (details supplied); the actions she will take to work with school management to address these concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter.[35692/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Ensuring that every child's experience in school is positive and that they have qualified, engaged teachers available to support them in their learning is a priority area of action for the Government.

There are now more teachers than ever working in the Irish education system. In March 2024 there were 74,145.9 FTE (full time equivalent) equating to 78,646 teachers employed.

There are less than 1% resignations in the Primary sector every year and 1.6% in Post Primary. The number of teachers who retired over the past number of years has varied, with 932 in 2013 and 1,074 in 2023.

Measures introduced have led to

• an increase of 20% in Initial Teacher Education graduates (student teachers) between 2018 and 2023, and a 29% increase in the number registered with the Teaching Council since 2017,
• an increase of 13.3% in the number of teaching posts allocated to primary between 2017/18 and 2023/24.

• a new bursary-type, fee refund scheme for teachers graduating with a PME (professional master of education) in 2024. This €2,000 payment will be made in 2025 to eligible primary and post-primary teachers. The purpose of this scheme is to encourage newly qualified teachers who have completed a PME in 2024 to take up teaching roles.

• at primary level, 610 additional places on initial teacher education programmes were approved.
• newly qualified teachers (NQTs) employed in primary schools can complete the Droichead process while employed on a Supply Panel or Principal Release Time Post.
• increasing the number of student teachers who can provide substitute cover; over 3,700 were registered to substitute in June 2024, up from 2,700 that were registered in the previous school year.
• increasing the pool of teachers available to undertake substitute work, through the continued suspension of the usual limits on career break and job-sharing schemes to the 2024/25 school year.
• encouraging retired teachers to work as substitute teachers; in the 2023/24 school year, over 1,700 retired teachers provided substitute cover, an increase of 12% on the previous year.
• the Teaching Transforms campaign continues to promote the teaching profession and encourage students to follow a career in teaching. Promotion campaigns have been developed to coincide with the CAO closing date and change of mind deadline in recent years.

• Over 3,700 newly qualified teachers registered with the Teaching Council in 2023 with over 122,000 now on the register.
• Analysis of CAO applications spanning from 2017 to 2024 indicates a sustained and robust demand for undergraduate teaching programmes. On average, 6% of first preference applications during the period from 2017 to 2024 were for either primary or post-primary teaching programmes.
• The new pay deal will mean that teachers’ starting salary will increase to €46,000 rising to a maximum of €85,000 per year which compares well internationally.

The Department will continue to engage closely with education stakeholders to develop further innovative measures to address teacher supply issues.