According to my Department's records, there are 344 whole-time teachers under the age of 25 employed in voluntary secondary, community and comprehensive schools in the current school year. This compares with a figure of 40 for the 1999-2000 school year. There are 1,435 teachers in the 26-30 age range, 4,242 teachers in their thirties, 5,503 teachers in their forties, and 4,823 teachers over 50 years of age.
This year, 959 second level teachers are in receipt of the 35 year allowance compared to a figure of 820 two years ago. Corresponding figures for the vocational sector are not available in my Department.
These figures quoted above clearly show that more young teachers are being appointed in our second level schools. The appointment of younger teachers to whole-time positions has come about as a direct result of the increase in the number of teaching posts which have been approved at second level since this Government came into office. The introduction of the early retirement scheme for teachers has also been a factor in this.