asked the Minister for Education if, with a view to ensuring a sufficient supply of qualified teachers, he is prepared to grant parity of salary with secondary and vocational teachers to primary teachers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Teachers' Parity Claim.
The present shortage of trained national teachers is not due to any shortage of suitable candidates for admission to training but to the fact that the existing accommodation in the training colleges proved insufficient for requirements. Already, arrangements have been made to increase considerably the number of places in the colleges and the question of making good the shortage of qualified teachers is receiving the urgent attention of my Department.
As regards the question of parity of salary between, on the one hand, national teachers and, on the other, secondary and vocational teachers, a claim in relation to this matter has been submitted by the Irish National Teachers' Organisation to the recently established Conciliation Council for National Teachers and will be the subject of discussion by the council at an early date in accordance with the terms of the approved scheme. It would not be proper for me to comment further on the matter at this stage.