Almost 1,000 teachers required

Almost 1,000 new primary and secondary-school positions are to be created by the beginning of the next school year, it has been confirmed.

Demographic trends have led the Department of Education to employ additional teaching resources beyond the 500 already committed to in the renewed Programme for Government.

Research by the department found that an additional 600 primary teachers and 330 post-primary teachers would be needed to account for increased numbers children attending school.

It is envisaged that the teachers will be in place for the beginning of the new school year in September.

As part of the renewed programme, a commitment was made not to increase the teacher-pupil ratio and it is estimated the extra resources will cost about €40 million, out of an overall education budget of between €8.5 billion and €9 billion.

Of the 500 teachers the Government agreed to hire as part of the renewed Programme for Government, 200 are already in place, and a further 150 are due to come into the system shortly.