Labour demands urgent action on teacher crisis
Labour demands urgent action on teacher crisis - The Labour Party
- Schools left scrambling ahead of new term
Labour’s Education Spokesperson Eoghan Kenny TD has sounded the alarm on the deepening teacher shortage, following reports that over 1,847 posts remain unfilled nationwide just weeks before schools are due to reopen. Kenny said the crisis is being fuelled by the housing crisis, poor conditions, and the Government’s continued failure to offer secure and attractive careers in education. He called for an urgent Government plan to tackle the shortage and support teachers across the country.
Deputy Kenny said:
“As the summer is in full flow, schools face enormous challenges heading into the next academic year. With reports of 1,847 teaching posts unfilled, we’re looking at a staffing crisis that is affecting every corner of the country.
“Teachers can’t afford to live near the schools where they work. We’re losing talent to abroad because of pay and housing. The State simply isn’t doing enough to attract or retain teachers, and the results are plain to see—classes being merged, fewer supports in schools, and an undermining of children’s right to a quality education.
“We’re nowhere near meeting the Government’s own Programme for Government target of a 19:1 student-teacher ratio. We are hearing from parents across the country who are pleading with the Department of Education to keep teachers in schools where enrolment’s are dropping. Nobody wants to see classes amalgamated—it’s bad for students and demoralising for teachers. This isn’t just a short-term issue—it’s a long-term failure to support education.
“Teachers have been ignored in the education system for too long. Successive Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil Governments have failed to value our educators, and now we’re paying the price. Their inaction is directly damaging schools’ ability to deliver consistent, in-class teaching.
“The time for vague commitments is over. We need a clear plan from Government to tackle the root causes of this crisis. Minister McEntee has a real opportunity now to act. That means better pay and conditions, real career progression, the opportunity to up skill continuously and addressing the housing crisis that is pushing educators out of the country. If we’re serious about giving every child the best start in life, then we must invest more in our classrooms, our teachers, and our children’s future.”