Written answers
Tuesday, 25 November 2025
Department of Education and Skills
School Staff
Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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363. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware that a school (details supplied) has had to cancel 5th year construction studies during the middle of the term due to the departure of a teacher; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65316/25]
Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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364. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps being taken to increase the availability of teachers for practical Leaving Certificate subjects such as construction studies, metal work and woodwork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65317/25]
Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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365. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration has been given to allowing teachers in high demand subjects to teach across a number of schools in order that subjects can be offered to students across a number of schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65318/25]
Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 363, 364 and 365 together.
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.
The recruitment and appointment of teachers for teaching positions is managed by individual school authorities. There are over 700 post-primary schools with boards of management, as well as Education and Training Boards (ETBs) in some cases responsible for the recruitment and appointment process.
There are more qualified teachers than ever working in schools with analysis of payroll data from March showing over 79,000 teachers employed nationwide in our schools including 36,000 in post-primary schools. This analysis found that over 98% of post-primary allocated teaching posts were filled nationwide.
While most teaching positions are filled, some schools face significant recruitment challenges. Payroll data from March 2025 shows the number of unfilled teaching posts remains low. Analysis of the teacher payroll shows 1.8% of allocations (621 posts) in post-primary were unutilised. This relatively low vacancy rate suggests that the vast majority of post-primary schools are well-staffed and able to meet the needs of their students. Additionally, research undertaken in 2024 found the following subjects that had vacant teacher posts: Gaeilge (55.7), maths (52.8), home economics (31.5), It was found that practical subjects like Construction Studies (16) and Technology (12) and engineering (10.5) had much lower vacant teacher posts.
Officials of my Department are aware that a teacher became unavailable at the school referred to in the Deputy’s question. My Department has been informed despite attempts by the school to recruit a replacement, the vacancy has not been filled. My Department will continue to liaise with the school on this matter.
My 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 over 30% increase in the number registered with the Teaching Council since 2017, and
- between 2018/19 and 2024/25, through record investment by Government, the number of teaching posts has increased by 11,752 with 5,886 (20.7%) in post-primary
Measures have been introduced to enhance the recruitment of STEM teachers. In recent budgets a STEM bursary to increase the number of STEM teachers available to post-primary schools, and an expansion of upskilling programmes have been introduced.
Under the Teaching Hours Extension Scheme post-primary teachers can provide up to 35 additional hours of substitute cover per term including in science. This measure has been extended to the current school year.
The profession is attractive, with strong demand for teacher education programmes, almost 1,800 newly qualified post-primary teachers registered with the Teaching Council in 2025. Salaries are competitive starting at €46,448 for 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 2025, first preferences rose by 5% for post-primary teaching. 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. Further measures to strengthen the teaching workforce will be considered to ensure that schools have the support needed to provide an excellent education for every student.
Séamus McGrath (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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366. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application for a school (details supplied) for additional special needs assistants. [65329/25]
Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is, in the first instance, the primary body responsible for the matter the Deputy has raised. I will arrange for your query to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.
Deputies are also welcome to raise such queries with the NCSE directly through their dedicated Oireachtas query line at oireachtasqueries@ncse.ie.
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