The Teachers' Union of Ireland has said that 4,500 more secondary school teachers will be needed by 2026 to meet growing classroom numbers.
The TUI said that figures published on the website of the Department of Education & Skills suggest there will 86,000 more students by 2026.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, TUI General Secretary John MacGabhann said the Government needs to plan now to meet the education needs of the current baby boom.
Mr MacGabhann said: "The important thing is that this is over a spread of years. We are all calling on the minister now to plan and to plan properly.''
