‘We are in crisis situation’: INTO warns teachers cannot afford to live in cities like Cork 

PRIMARY schools are facing serious issues around attracting and retaining teachers, with Anne Horan, the Cork-based incoming vice-president of the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) warning that the sector is now in a “crisis situation”.

It comes as Cork-based union representatives warn that teachers cannot afford to live in cities like Cork, saying that the Department of Education needs to take the issue “very seriously”.

Ms Horan raised concern over a shortage of teachers, adding that schools are finding it difficult to fill temporary and permanent positions.

“If you’re trying to get a substitute, you could get one for next Friday but if it’s 8am on a Monday it’s impossible to get one for that day,” Ms Horan said.

The issues are largely down to pay and the cost of living, the Cork teacher said, explaining “teachers aren’t able to live in the places they work in, that’s in cities like Cork but increasingly towns all over Ireland.”

She added: “They are moving abroad, some for sunshine and the lifestyle, which is fair, but others for more favourable pay and tax conditions, and more opportunities for promotion.

“We are in a crisis situation now.”

The incoming vice-president of the INTO said the teaching profession has to become more attractive.

“We need our teachers to come back, and it’s something that the Department of Education has to take very seriously,” Ms Horan said.

It comes as public sector unions including the INTO backed a proposed national pay deal for public servants that will mean wage hikes of 10.25% over two and a half years.

'Teachers can't afford to buy a house'

Ms Horan’s concerns were echoed by John Driscoll, Cork-based former president and central executive committee member of the INTO.

“Just like many other professions, teachers can’t afford to buy a house,” he said.

Mr Driscoll added that while previously people would save money to go and live abroad, teachers are now going abroad to save money, with the goal of earning enough to settle down in Ireland after working in the Middle East or Australia for a while.

“Teachers are taking career breaks and going abroad for a higher salary and maybe accommodation covered, but they also find they have more career opportunities in other systems,” he added.

“Ireland always attracted teachers of the highest calibre, people who got high points in the Leaving Cert and could choose other careers wanted to go into teaching.

“INTO are now concerned that people would look at the salary and say ‘I could earn more doing X, Y, or Z’, and the end result of that is a lowering of standards — we want to maintain the profession as something attractive, that includes the pay, the ability to buy a house and have a reasonable standard of living, but also to have a good career progression.”

Principal positions less attractive

Mr Driscoll explained that huge istrative burdens are making principal positions less attractive.

“A relic of the austerity years was that our whole middle management system was decimated.

“We have been clawing it back but we are still a long way short from where we need to be.

It has increased the press on principals and school leaders, it is becoming excessive.”

Teaching principals have one day a week substitute cover for istrative work, but this needs to be doubled, he said.

“There is a real need for that to be increased,” he said.

“The position of principal was previously seen as something to aspire to, but people now are thinking twice.

“They are wondering if the extra pay balances out the additional responsibilities and stress, and many principals are looking for methods to step down.”

The matter is among a number of issues to be discussed at the INTO’s annual conference which gets underway today.