‘Extra teacher placements not enough’

Incentives other than increased training places will be needed to keep pace with growing demand for second-level teachers, Education Minister Richard Bruton has been advised.

The biggest challenge for those who take up nearly 400 extra teacher training places in the seven universities, from next year, will be finding schools where they can do their practical training.

At least 100 of the 280 extra undergraduate places will lead to a qualification to teach second-level subjects that have teacher shortages: for example, maths, science, Irish, and foreign languages.