Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

107. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is considering a strategic plan to attract qualified teachers, who have left the service to work abroad, back to the education service in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39786/25]

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

This Government is 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.

Attracting qualified teachers, whether working overseas or not, will support schools to address teacher supply issues. As a result, several measures are already in place to support teachers who either qualified in the State or abroad and who are working abroad.

The Department of Education and Youth allows teachers who work in an Exchequer funded teaching post to apply for incremental credit with respect to previous teaching service which they accrued while teaching outside of Ireland.

The criteria for the award of incremental credit are set out in the Department’s Circulars 10/2001 for primary teachers, 29/2007 and 29/2010 for post-primary teachers. The criteria for the award of incremental credit to recognised teachers was agreed under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC).

These circulars provide for the award of incremental credit in respect of overseas teaching service, both within, and outside, the EU. Where a school satisfies the criteria set out in the circulars to have service at that school recognised for incremental credit, an award of incremental credit can be made.

Criteria such as whether the school outside the State is funded by that state, which can be of particular relevance when examining claims relating to private teaching schools, and the length of time the school has been in existence, must be satisfied in order for service at that school to be recognised for incremental credit.

As recommended by the Department’s Action Plan on Teacher Supply, the Irish Primary Principals’ Network (IPPN) operates an online portal for the recruitment of teachers to long-term teaching positions. The portal facilitates the matching of demand and supply and provides an efficient and user-friendly recruitment process for both schools and teachers, including teachers working abroad who wish to apply for posts here.

Turas Abhaile is an initiative of the Association of Community and Comprehensive Schools (ACCS) and the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD) which has assisted teachers based abroad to return to teach in Ireland since September 2019. Turas Abhaile matches teachers with specific vacancies and participating schools facilitate online interviews to suit the preferences of candidates.

Additionally, to assist with teacher supply challenges, the Teaching Council has proposed a provision that will enable eligible teachers who have qualified outside of Ireland to apply for registration and complete their induction requirement here.

Further to these measures, the Teaching Transforms campaign promotes the teaching profession and encourages students to follow a career in teaching.

A comprehensive workforce plan for the education sector, a commitment under the Programme for Government is in development. Additionally, preparations are being made to host an education convention—another Programme for Government commitment—that will bring together all stakeholders to share their experiences, expectations, and hopes for the future of our education system.

A new project, supported by UNESCO and the EU Commission, will create a strategic plan for managing Ireland’s teaching workforce is part of the workforce planning activity currently underway. This two-year project will involve consultations with key stakeholders to develop recommendations.

I am committed to addressing teacher supply and announced new teacher supply measures in recent months including a STEM bursary, a PME fee refund scheme and an expansion of upskilling programmes which are in addition to more flexible substitution measures, recently extended. To complement these measures, I have announced my intention to enable teachers to obtain permanent roles with one year’s service, as opposed to two years’ service.

Teaching is an attractive career choice with 3,700 newly qualified teachers registered with the Teaching Council in 2024, increases in CAO first preferences for both primary and post-primary teaching programmes and salaries that compare 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.

I am considering further measures to strengthen the teaching workforce and ensure that schools have the support needed to provide an excellent education for every student.