The Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) has said that schools are struggling with a real, severe teacher recruitment and retention crisis.
The union said the precarious employment status of second level teachers is driving graduates away from the profession.
The TUI is calling on the Government to use Budget 2024 to provide the required resources to tackle the issue by increasing teaching allocations to schools allowing teachers to be recruited on a full-time basis.
It is also calling for the full restoration of posts of responsibility and the ending of bureaucratic delays for Irish teachers living abroad who wish to return home.
The TUI said the Department of Education must immediately announce that it will allow schools to employ teachers on a permanent basis after the traditional cut-off point of the end of October.
"Schools are struggling with a very real, severe teacher recruitment and retention crisis, so the time for sticking plaster measures has long since passed," said TUI President Liz Farrell.
"It is now time for a completely new approach to teacher recruitment so that Ireland can compete for graduates, who are increasingly looking at international options.
"If the Government is serious about tackling this crisis in the medium term, the appropriate, targeted resourcing must be made available in Budget 2024," she added.
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The Department of Education has acknowledged that problems persist when it comes to sourcing teachers.
It said extra supports were in place for post-primary schools, among them a pilot teacher-sharing scheme allowing two schools to collaborate on high-priority subjects.
Other measures include an upskilling programme to boost the number of Irish language teachers and encourage retired teachers to take up short-term substitute positions.
