Quinn brings in new rules on teacher recruitment

The Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has announced new measures to prevent retired teachers and unqualified people being hired.

Mr Quinn has directed all schools to employ only appropriately qualified and registered teachers.

Figures released by the Department of Education last month showed that half of all 3,200 primary schools employed an unqualified teacher for up to a week during the first half of this school year.

They also showed that 1,200 retired teachers were employed as substitutes during the same period.

Schools will be required to keep a list of appropriately qualified registered teachers who are available for substitute teaching at short notice.