Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 April 2024
329. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education to report on unqualified teachers currently working in the education system; the reasons her Department does not collate data on the number currently active in the teaching professions; how she assesses the impact of unqualified teachers working in the education system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19259/24]
View answerThe recruitment and appointment of?teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for individual school authorities, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24 of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012). In that regard, there are more than 3,700 individual employers (boards of management of primary schools and post-primary schools, as well as ETBs).
It is a legal requirement for a teacher to register with the Teaching Council in order to receive a salary paid by the State. This ensures all teachers are qualified, capable and ethical professionals.
Schools are permitted to employ substitute teachers, who are not fully qualified teachers, when all attempts at recruiting a qualified substitute teacher have been unsuccessful.
Schools may only employ an unqualified substitute teacher for short periods up to a maximum of 5 days, as a last resort. My Department does not collect data on the recruitment of unqualified teachers by individual employers, as instances of their employment are not reported by school employers.
In addition, where posts are unfilled for a period of time, or where a vacancy arises in a school due to a teacher taking leave, such vacancies may be filled by substitute teachers, on either a casual or non-casual contract basis.
My Department intends to finalise an updated model on the demand for teachers in 2024. Additionally, a project initiated in 2023 which seeks to monitor vacant permanent and fixed-term positions within the system remains ongoing. This project continues to gather and analyse data while refining methodologies to ensure the reliability of these data.
Budget 2024 reflects this Government’s commitment to ongoing investment in the education system through various measures including the expansion of upskilling programs, free to teachers, aimed at increasing the number of qualified post-primary teachers in high-demand subjects and reducing out-of-field teaching. New programs in Irish, French, politics & society, and computer science will complement existing programs in maths, physics, and Spanish. Trinity College Dublin will deliver a new Irish upskilling program for post-primary teachers starting in late 2024, available at no cost to eligible teachers.
The vast majority of sanctioned teacher positions are filled. The rate of resignation and retirement is very low by any standard and is consistent with previous years.
Ireland’s education system is performing strongly, something that is supported by recent international testing. That is a tribute to the professionalism and dedication of our teachers. We need to continue to support our schools and maintain the high standards that have helped get us to where we are.
My Department continues to engage closely with education stakeholders to develop further, innovative measures to address teacher supply issues.
