The Government will need to restore pay equality for teachers, pay retired teachers more to come back to school or employ panels of teachers to bridge gaps in substitution cover, TDs and senators have heard.

Hundreds of teachers could be at risk of going unpaid because their failure to apply for Garda vetting means they will not be able to renew their professional registration.

New rules come into force today that should make it easier to lodge a complaint about a teacher.

Powers for misbehaving and bad teachers to face inquiries and possibly lose the right to teach come into effect from today — 15 years after the relevant law first passed.

Innovation in teaching is being celebrated in Dublin today, as the Festival of Education in Learning and Teaching Excellence takes place at the RDS.