Teacher shortages are failing children, says Labour education spokesperson

Labour education spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD has said the children of Dublin are “being failed” over the “chronic” teacher shortages in schools across Dublin.

According to Deputy Ó Ríordáin over 60 percent of supply posts are vacant, and he called on the Minister to convene an urgent roundtable with stakeholders to find solutions.

“The failure of the Department to adequately plan for teacher supply is seriously impacting on our children’s education, and is causing a huge administrative headache for principals seeking to fill posts,” he said.

“The Minister must be proactive, and work to find solutions, as in Dublin nearly all principals are struggling to find substitute teachers.

“This is truly and utterly unacceptable. Convening a roundtable with stakeholders would provide an opportunity for unions and others to put forward the reality of chronic understaffing, and tease out potential actions the Department can take.”

Deputy Ó Ríordáin said he has heard reports of special education teachers “being forced to plug gaps” in mainstream classrooms which, in turn, is depriving “vulnerable children of vital education.

“More than a quarter of all schools who responded to a recent survey from the Irish Primary Principals Network (IPPN) said they did not have their full staffing quota,” he said.

“Many positions on supply panels of substitute teachers are lying vacant, while the INTO say the cost-of-living crisis, the lack of housing and massive increases to rents has exacerbated the problems associated with teacher recruitment.

“The reality is we have more than 60 percent of posts on teacher supply panels in Dublin are vacant so we need an urgent roundtable discussion with stakeholders to get to grips with this crisis or more children will suffer across our capital.”