Schools face staffing crisis, claims INTO

SCHOOLS face a staffing crisis because of Government plans to prevent teachers from retiring on full pension before the age of 65, a union leader said last night.

Irish National Teachers Organisation general secretary John Carr said the changes involved and the scrapping of early retirement arrangements will turn young people off the profession.

His warning came as the Seanad began debating the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004 last night.