Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

99. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current status of teacher recruitment for September; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39682/25]

Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

100. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current status of teacher recruitment for September 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39909/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 100 together.

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 more qualified teachers than ever working in schools with recent analysis of payroll data showing over 79,000 teachers employed nationwide in our schools with over 43,000 at primary level including special schools and 36,000 in post-primary schools.

The recruitment and appointment of teachers for teaching positions is managed by individual school authorities. There are over 3,700 individual school authorities, responsible for this process, including boards of management at primary and post-primary schools, as well as Education and Training Boards (ETBs). Consequently, and as recruitment by school authorities is continuing, it is not possible to summarise the status of teacher recruitment for September 2025.

I am committed to addressing teacher supply; as with other sectors, recruitment challenges exist. To address teacher supply issues, the Government has implemented several measures including:

• Improving the Teaching Council’s registration process for eligible teachers who qualified outside of Ireland, allowing them to complete their induction requirements within the country.
• Developing a route to a permanent teaching post after one year, as opposed to two years for newly qualified teachers.
• Reducing restrictions on jobsharers and those on a career break from working as substitutes in primary and post-primary schools were extended to the next school year.
• Enabling post-primary teachers to provide up to 35 additional hours of substitute cover per term under the Teaching Hours Extension Scheme has also extended to the next school year.
• Introducing a STEM bursary, a PME fee refund scheme, and
• Expanding upskilling programmes to encourage more teachers into the profession including to specific subject areas experiencing teacher shortages.

• 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,
• The Teaching Council reported 94,928 teachers registered in the 2016/17 school year increasing to 122,743 teachers registered in 2023/24. Currently, the Teacher Council have reported that there are over 126,000 on the register representing a 33% increase in the number of teachers registered between 2017 and now.

• With 3,700 newly qualified teachers registered with the Teaching Council in 2024 and over 126,000 now on the register.
• First preference data from the CAO showing increases at both primary 9% and post-primary 5% and
• New entrants pay currently commencing in excess of €44,000 for primary and €45,000 for post-primary rising to €46,000 under the current pay agreement.