Two-thirds of new teachers do not have full-time positions

Most teachers who began their careers since pay cuts of up to 21% were introduced six years ago do not have full-time permanent jobs, research has found.

The finding that two-thirds of those who began teaching at second level since 2011 are in temporary or part-time positions highlights the financial difficulties facing those already on significantly lower incomes than their counterparts.

The Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) has suspended industrial action in pursuit of the restoration of equal pay for all members, regardless of when they began their careers. But the union says the findings of its survey show the problems they seek to redress through the campaign, which led to more than 500 second-level schools closing for two one-day strikes last autumn.