Warning over substitution crisis as hundreds of teaching posts remain unfilled

There were 234 reported vacant posts in primary and special schools across the country in October.

Hundreds of teaching posts remain unfilled as a substitution crisis continues to disproportionately impact children with special educational needs, the primary school teachers’ union has warned.

A survey of primary and special schools conducted by the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) during October found 234 reported vacant posts in primary and special schools across the country.

The survey, carried out in partnership with the Irish Primary Principals’ Network (IPPN) and the Catholic Primary Schools Management Association (CPSMA), found that almost 290 people with no teaching qualification carried out substitute work in schools up to mid-October.

The number of vacant posts was highest in Dublin, where 55% of the schools taking part in the survey had vacancies, including 131 long-term vacancies. This was followed by Wicklow and Kildare. 

The survey, published this Monday, also found that special schools nationwide had the highest percentage of reported vacant posts, at 56%. 

Gaelscoileanna and disadvantaged schools also reported more long-term vacancies; 43% of Gaelscoileanna had long-term vacancies, as did 35% of Deis Band 2 and 32% of Deis Band 1 schools. 

This compares to 10% in mainstream schools.

Approximately 60% (336) of the almost 570 responding schools reported they had been unable to source a substitute for an absence.

A further 56 schools reported that they had 10 or more days where they could not get a substitute in September. 

The practice of splitting classes to cover for absent colleagues remains widespread: 215 schools reported splitting classes, which resulted in 735 days of disruption to children’s learning in the first six weeks of the school year.

A further 65% of schools reported having to redeploy a Special Education Teacher (SET) to cover for the absence of a class teacher.

INTO general secretary John Boyle said: “This Government made it abundantly clear on Budget Day that it is prepared to continue presiding over the largest primary class sizes in Europe." 

"They are clearly happy to ignore the reality that massive classes are regularly being subdivided. This is a political failure to address the ongoing lack of qualified substitute teachers in the country." 

“The INTO has been steadfast in its demands for the substitute supply panel scheme to be augmented and expanded, yet this has not happened." 

"The Government must reduce class sizes to the European average of 19 as promised in its own programme. There is no excuse for the inaction this Government has exhibited since its formation last January.”