24th February 2025
The INTO has been actively engaging with key stakeholders over the past week to address the ongoing teacher recruitment and retention crisis in primary and special education.
Last Thursday (20 February), INTO representatives attended a bilateral meeting with Department of Education officials, where the union put forward concrete proposals to tackle the issue, including:
- Increasing intake to B.Ed courses from 2025
- Advanced teacher supply planning to accommodate smaller class sizes and additional special classes
- Extending the abatement waiver for retired teachers covering substitution work
- Expanding opportunities for career break and job-sharing teachers to undertake substitution
- Granting access to the Droichead induction scheme for teachers trained outside the Republic of Ireland
- Reviewing the incremental credit scheme
- Ensuring timely payment of PME fee refunds
- Progressing the Teaching Transforms initiative in 2025
- Introducing pre-qualification courses for aspiring teacher education students
INTO representatives expressed deep frustration that many of the 40 teacher supply proposals submitted over the past 18 months have yet to be acted upon. However, the union hopes that recent commitments from Minister Helen McEntee will translate into swift and meaningful action.
Department of Education officials stated that further consideration would be given to INTO’s proposals in the coming months. It is expected that the Department will publish data on teacher supply and the results of its survey of substitute teachers shortly.
UNESCO Research on Teacher Workforce Planning
On Monday (24 February), the INTO also met with UNESCO representatives, who are leading a European Union-funded research project on Strategic Workforce Planning for Teachers in Ireland. The initiative aims to support the Department of Education and Youth in identifying the key drivers of teacher shortages and developing evidence-based solutions.
The project has several key objectives:
- Building consensus among stakeholders on the challenges facing the profession and how to improve workforce planning
- Providing recommendations to shape the Department’s long-term strategy for addressing teacher supply issues
- Enhancing the status and appeal of teaching while working to reduce shortages across the sector
To support this work, an ad-hoc Working Group has been established, comprising representatives from the Department of Education, key national stakeholders, and major institutional actors in teacher supply. INTO General Secretary John Boyle is a member of this group, ensuring the voice of primary and special education teachers is central to the discussions.
The INTO made recommendations to the research team on substitution, workforce planning, registration and induction, making primary teaching in Ireland more attractive and incentivising work in specialised settings.
Have Your Say – Teacher Supply Surveys
As part of this review, UNESCO has finalised surveys for school principals and teachers to gather critical insights. INTO urges all members to take part, as the findings will directly influence the policy recommendations shaping Ireland’s future teacher workforce strategy.
📌 School Principal Survey: Click here
📌 Teacher Survey: Click here
Your input is invaluable—please take a few minutes to share your experience and help drive real change in tackling the teacher supply crisis.