99% of principals and deputy principals report recruitment difficulties in survey

Almost 100% of principals and deputy principals surveyed on staff numbers, have said their school has had problems recruiting teachers, while more than half said they have had difficulties retaining teachers in the past year.

The Teachers Union of Ireland said the findings of the survey of 150 principals and deputy principals - including that 99% had recruitment difficulties - points to a staffing crisis. Three-quarters of respondents said a situation had arisen where no teacher applied for an advertised teaching post in their school in the past year.