According to a recent survey conducted by the primary teacher union the INTO, along with other education associations, there are currently 951 vacant teacher posts in primary and special schools in Ireland. This number is expected to triple in the coming months due to a severe teacher shortage crisis. More than 1,300 schools participated in the survey, representing 40% of all primary and special schools in the country.
The survey also revealed that schools anticipate an additional 1,816 vacancies by next January as a result of expected retirements and long-term leave. The recruitment crisis is most acute in Dublin, Wicklow, and Kildare, with over half of schools reporting unfilled teaching positions.
Schools are struggling to fill these gaps by taking teachers out of special education roles and hiring unregistered individuals. INTO General Secretary John Boyle has called for immediate action from the government to address the housing and living cost pressures affecting teacher recruitment.
This shortage is having a detrimental impact on children with additional needs, as schools are forced to redeploy Special Education Teachers to fill classroom positions. The lack of qualified teachers is also causing immense stress on education staff.
The INTO is advocating for the establishment of a national teacher supply commission and an increase in teacher education courses to address this crisis and ensure the future delivery of primary and special education in Ireland.