Tighter mortgage rules a factor in shortage of substitute teachers

Tighter mortgage deposit rules for first-time buyers may have added to the difficulties primary schools are facing in finding substitute teachers.

The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) says principals in some places are struggling since last autumn to find staff for short-notice vacancies.

This follows a school year when difficulties had been expected due to shortfalls in newly qualified teachers (NQTs). That arose from the extension of the main primary teaching qualification from three to four years, meaning very few new teachers graduated in 2015.