State urged to restore equality of pay for teachers

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.

It was made clear to the Oireachtas Education Committee by bodies representing school managers, principals and teachers that more resources are needed to tackle what the committee accepted is a substitution crisis.

Catholic Primary School Management Association general secretary Seamus Mulconry said its own survey proves that the shortage is very real, with 90% of primary schools reporting difficulty sourcing substitutes. He said the urgent action needed includes targeted marketing, that might include financial inducements, to get retired teachers into schools.