‘Early school-leavers’ teachers paid less than secondary counterparts’

STAFF working with early school-leavers are being paid up to €15,000 less than second-level teachers - despite doing the same work, the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) claimed yesterday.

Around 350 coordinators and resource people work in the country’s 90 Youthreach centres, which cater for people who have left school. Most are qualified and teach between 15 and 20 hours a week, but earn much less than schoolteachers.

The starting salary for a teacher with an honours degree and higher diploma is almost €37,000.