James Geoghegan (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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389. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the grant for newly qualified teachers only applies to those who qualified through the Professional Master of Education route and not to those who qualified through the direct route; if she is considering expanding the eligibility criteria to include all newly qualified teachers, given the high cost of living and specific challenges faced by teachers, such as those with medical conditions that limit their ability to drive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7174/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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This Government is fully committed to ensuring that every child has a positive school experience, with access to qualified and engaged teachers who are dedicated to supporting their learning. This remains a top priority. My Department regularly consults with key stakeholders to address critical issues like teacher supply. Further measures to strengthen the teaching workforce are being considered.

The objective of the Professional Master of Education (PME) fee refund scheme is twofold, to encourage newly qualified teachers (NQT), who completed a PME to take up teaching roles in return for a minimum level of service, and secondly to recognise some of the costs incurred in undertaking a PME.

This is a novel initiative, and the impact of this measure on the ability of schools to fully use all their allocated posts must be considered before the scope or eligibility of the scheme is extended.

Circular Number 0069/2024 Professional Master of Education (PME) Fee Refund Scheme sets out the criteria for the scheme. Applicants who complete a PME programme in the 2024, are registered with the Teaching Council under Route 1 or Route 2 and who provide a minimum period of service in the 2024/25 school year will receive a payment of €2,000, subject to statutory deductions. The scheme opened for applications recently.

As in other sectors, recruitment challenges exist in the education sector, especially in urban areas. While most teaching positions are filled, some schools face significant recruitment challenges.

To address teacher supply issues, the Department has implemented several measures that have led to:

• an increase of 20% in Initial Teacher Education graduates (student teachers) between 2018 and 2023, and a 30% increase in the number registered with the Teaching Council since 2017, and
• Between 2018 and 2024 there has been a significant increase of 5,621 (13.08%) primary, and 6,006 (17.42%) post-primary allocated teaching posts.

• a bursary announced in Budget 2025 for student teachers to increase the number of qualified STEM (including science, maths, chemistry, physics, engineering) teachers in post-primary schools. The bursary, a €2k payment each year for the final two years of their undergraduate initial teacher education programme, is contingent on a commitment to complete a minimum 2 year’s post-qualification teaching service in a recognised post primary school.
• Budget 2024 also included the expansion of upskilling programmes, free to teachers, aimed at increasing the number of qualified teachers in high-demand subjects and reducing out-of-field teaching. New programmes in Irish, French, politics & society, and computer science will commence in 2025 and complement existing programmes in maths, physics, and Spanish. Trinity College Dublin will deliver the new Irish upskilling programme for post-primary.
• In addition, a project, supported by UNESCO and the EU Directorate-General for Structural Reform Support, began in October, focusing on strategic workforce planning for teachers in Ireland.

• With 3,700 newly qualified teachers registered with the Teaching Council in 2024 and over 126,000 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. My Department frequently consults and engages closely with stakeholders on issues such as teacher supply through industrial relations forums, sectoral meetings, and direct discussions with teacher unions.