To address the teacher recruitment crisis, particularly in Dublin, the Department of Education proposes innovative solutions. These include targeted bursaries for teachers and a universal teaching qualification. The department's briefing documents reveal a concerning shortage of teachers, with 1,228 unfilled positions in primary schools, 621 at second level, and 60 in special education. Despite a record 79,225 teachers employed, the acute shortage is especially evident in Dublin and surrounding counties, including substitutes. The issue extends to a lack of teachers with qualifications in STEM, modern foreign languages, Irish, Home Economics, and practical subjects at post-primary levels. The introduction of a special allowance for living in Dublin has sparked concerns about demands for similar measures across the public service.
The department acknowledges the impact of population growth, including increased immigration, and the rising cost of living on teacher supply. Enrolments in primary schools are projected to decline until 2036, while second-level numbers are expected to peak in 2026/27 before returning to current levels by 2031/32. However, these projections do not alleviate the recruitment challenges faced by schools, especially in the Dublin commuter belt. The demand for additional post-primary teachers is expected to persist for years, necessitating the exploration of new teaching routes, conversion programs, upskilling initiatives, and further targeted bursaries.
The structure of the education system and the specific nature of unfilled teaching posts pose challenges to developing adequate measures. For instance, sharing resources between schools is a proposed solution, but it may not be universally applicable. The budget introduced an annual €2,000 bursary for student teachers in STEM fields during their final two years of undergraduate teacher education, with a requirement for at least two years of post-qualification teaching in a recognized post-primary school. Upskilling schemes for French, computer science, politics, and society commenced in September 2025, with similar programs under consideration for technology suite subjects.
Despite an increase in population, the number of teachers per pupil has grown significantly, outpacing student population growth in both primary and post-primary schools. The department emphasizes that teaching remains a desirable career path for many students. However, the payroll service has faced challenges, including overpayments of €6.8 million to 3,550 individuals, and the department is seeking repayment, which is complicated by cases where individuals are no longer employed and have no pension entitlements.
