News | Latest Breaking News Stories & Headlines

Pupils at Our Lady Immaculate Senior National School in Dublin - the survey found the recruitment crisis is most acute in the capital

951 vacant posts in primary and special schools - survey

At least 951 teacher posts in primary and special schools are vacant and schools expect this number to treble in coming months because of the teacher shortage.

Education • 21 Oct 24

The temporary expansion comes amid a chronic teacher shortage which has left many schools struggling to fill vacant teacher posts (stock image)

Over 600 extra teacher course places in next two years

An additional 320 places are to be provided on primary teacher training courses for the coming academic year, with 290 extra places to be created the following year.

Education • 27 Mar 23

Norma Foley addressing the INTO Congress in Killarney this morning

Need to make teaching more attractive, Foley tells INTO

Minister for Education Norma Foley has told primary school teachers in Killarney that she agrees with calls by their union for a sustained and increased investment in education.

Education • 19 Apr 22

School capitation grants cover the day-to-day running costs of primary schools

INTO demands restoration of school capitation grant

The Irish National Teachers' Organisation has demanded that the Government fully restore the primary school capitation grant to €200 per pupil.

Education • 13 Jun 19

Delegates at the ASTI conference passed a motion mandating the union leadership to negotiate a return to the pre-September 2014 sick leave arrangements

ASTI to seek return of pre-2014 sick pay entitlements

Secondary teachers are to campaign for a return to their pre-2014 sick pay entitlements, which were significantly reduced during the austerity crisis.

Ireland • 25 Apr 19

Unions are meeting oversight body to discuss pay claims

Teacher unions hopeful of progress on pay talks

The INTO has said the Government has not given any indication that it is prepared to enhance its previous offer for the partial restoration of pay equality for public servants hired from 2011.

Ireland • 18 Jan 19

ASTI Central Executive Council made no recommendation to members on how they should vote

ASTI votes to reject Government pay proposals

The Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland has rejected the government's proposals to restore pay equality for so-called new entrants by 53% to 47%.

Education • 29 Nov 18

Research has found that while Ireland's school student population is highly diverse, teachers continue to be overwhelmingly 'white Irish' and middle class

Course to help immigrant teachers find work in Ireland

A new programme aimed at helping immigrant teachers find work in Irish schools opened to applicants today.

Education • 14 Nov 18

The ballot will take place over the coming weeks.

ASTI to ballot members on Govt proposals over pay

One of the country's largest teachers unions, the ASTI, is to ballot members on the Government's proposals for partial pay restoration.

News • 13 Oct 18

INTO President John Boyle earlier told the conference that equal pay was the union's priority

Teachers to give Govt one month for equal pay proposals

Teachers are to give the Government one month to formulate proposals aimed at ending pay inequality among teachers.

Education • 02 Apr 18

Pay set to dominate teacher conferences

Once again this year there is one issue that will dominate the annual teacher conferences, and it is pay, specifically pay for younger teachers who entered the profession after 2010.

Analysis and Comment • 02 Apr 18

The ASTI is due to hold its annual conference next week

Decline in teacher job satisfaction - ASTI survey

Job satisfaction among teachers has fallen by more than a quarter over the past nine years, according to a survey of members carried out by second level teacher trade union the ASTI.

Education • 27 Mar 18

First choice applications for primary teaching are up by 8%

Teacher training courses see rise in applications

There has been a rise this year in the number of people applying for teacher training courses.

Education • 09 Mar 18

There are more than 2,200 teachers on career breaks of up to five years

Bruton says supply panels may not be favoured

Minister for Education Richard Bruton has indicated that the Department of Education may not favour proposals put forward by school and teacher organisations aimed at addressing the current shortage of substitute teachers.

Education • 26 Jan 18

The Department of Education said that in general there were "no issues" with recruiting extra teachers

Call for strategy to tackle substitute teacher shortage

The General Secretary of the Catholic Primary Schools Management Association has said the Minister for Education needs to put in place a strategy to reach out to every qualified, registered teacher who is not in a classroom and urge them to return.

Education • 09 Jan 18

Immigrant teachers face barriers to working in Ireland

Study examines lack of qualified teachers from abroad

Academics at a Dublin teacher training college are to begin a two-year project to examine why immigrants who are qualified teachers are not working as such in Irish schools and what can be done about it.

Education • 28 Nov 17

There will be 1,300 new teaching posts in 2018

Pupil-teacher ratio drops as education funds increase

Education spending will be increased by €554 million next year, bringing the total spend to a record €10.08 billion.

Budget 2018 • 10 Oct 17

The Executive Council will hold a special meeting to consult with key committee members on 27 June

INMO defers decision on new public pay agreement

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has deferred a decision on whether to recommend acceptance of the new public service pay agreement in order to seek clarifications from the Department of Health regarding staff recruitment and retention difficulties.

Ireland • 14 Jun 17

INTO General Secretary Sheila Nunan said 'the agreement has failed to signal an end to pay inequality'

INTO recommends rejection of proposed pay agreement

The country's largest teacher trade union has decided to recommend rejection of the proposed public sector pay agreement.

into • 09 Jun 17

Public servants, including teachers, recruited after 1 February 2012 started on a 10% lower pay scale

Dept outlines pay increase for new teachers

The Department of Education and Skills has issued a circular to school managers outlining pay increases that will apply from 1 January 2017 for recently-recruited teachers who have accepted the Lansdowne Road Agreement.

teachers • 13 Dec 16

Yesterday's strike closed over 500 secondary schools around the country

Govt to hold fresh talks with ASTI next week

The leadership of the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland met today to discuss details of their ongoing dispute with the Government over pay for more recently qualified teacher and payments for supervision and substitution duties.

News • 28 Oct 16

Teachers hold a picket outside Tullow Community School

ASTI concerned over 'contingency plans'

Almost 70% of second-level schools are closed today as members of the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland strike in pursuit of equal pay for newly-qualified teachers.

News • 27 Oct 16

School closures to go ahead as talks end

Industrial action by the ASTI will go ahead after last ditch talks with the Department of Education end without agreement with 507 schools around the country being forced to close tomorrow.

News • 26 Oct 16

ASTI teachers are set to strike on Thursday

JMB says schools might not re-open after midterm

The General Secretary of the Joint Managerial Body has said that he does not envisage many secondary schools opening after mid-term break as members of ASTI withdraw from supervision and substitution duties.

News • 25 Oct 16

At least 1,400 of the new teaching posts will be needed to cope with rising demographics

2,500 extra posts announced for schools

The education budget will increase by 5% next year, with much of the increase going towards funding growing numbers of students in the system.

News • 12 Oct 16