Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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824. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to visit the United Arab Emirates to attract Irish trained teachers to return home and work in the Irish Educational System. [45522/25]

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.

My Department has implemented a range of teacher supply measures in recent months including an initiative to assist teachers gain permanent roles more quickly. Several measures are already in place to support teachers who either qualified in the State or abroad and who are working abroad.

Teachers who work in an Oireachtas funded teaching posts may 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. These criteria were 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. Criteria such as whether the school is subject to state funding, are of particular relevance when examining claims relating to private teaching schools. The length of time the school has been in existence is also relevant in recognising service for the award of incremental credit.

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

Additional measures introduced in recent budgets included a STEM bursary, a PME fee refund scheme and an expansion of upskilling programmes which are, in addition to more flexible substitution measures.

The Teaching Transforms campaign promotes the teaching profession and encourages students to follow a career in teaching. The campaign is supported by a dedicated webpage, which includes useful information for teachers seeking to return to work in Ireland or who have qualified outside the State (www.gov.ie/teachingtransforms).

Following on from 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.

The profession is attractive, with strong demand for teacher education programmes and a 30% increase in registered teachers. Salaries are competitive, starting at €44,879 (primary) and €46,448 (post-primary) and rising to €85,000 under the current pay deal.

Around 6% of first-choice CAO applications from 2017–2024 were for teaching, showing steady demand. In 2024, first preferences rose by 9% for primary and 5% for post-primary teaching. 85% of newly appointed primary teachers in 2024/25 are on full-time, mostly fixed-term contracts. Over 75% of new post-primary teachers are employed full-time. 93% of teachers with 5+ years’ experience hold permanent full-time or pro-rata contracts.

My Department frequently consults and engages closely with stakeholders on teacher supply issues through industrial relations forums, sectoral meetings, and direct discussions. 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.