New teachers could be paid a €2,000 incentive to take up jobs.
Newly qualified teachers who take up a full-time role for the coming school year will receive the payment next summer.
It comes as schools struggle to hire staff, with high accommodation costs and the lure of teaching jobs abroad among the contributing factors.
According to the Irish Times the incentive scheme will apply to an estimated 2,000 teachers who have completed their professional masters of education.
The cost of the PME – about €15,000 – and duration of the two-year qualification have also been cited as “push factors” turning some graduates away from teaching.
Despite a record 121,000 teachers registered with the Teaching Council, schools reported a number of vacant posts in the last academic year.
A survey of more than 1,000 schools late last year by school management bodies found there were more than 800 vacant teaching posts across primary classes.
At second level, teachers’ unions and principals said many schools were forced to drop or limit access to key subjects due to staff shortages.
The incentive payment – to be subject to tax – will be made to each applicant who satisfies the eligibility criteria in 2025.
INTO general secretary John Boyle said the payment is very much needed, but the union urgently wishes to see details before more young teachers move abroad.
“This year in primary alone, about 40,000 to 50,000 children every single day, didn’t have a qualified teacher in front of their class.
“We have had about 3,000 vacancies this year, 2,000 long-term vacancies, and the long-term substitution crisis as well, about 1,000 of those.
“The jobs are being advertised. The schools are closing on Friday, and these young teachers are making decisions.”
The Department of Education said the scheme is intended to operate only for the 2024/25 school year.