Survey reveals there are currently over 800 teaching vacancies across the country

Taoiseach says Government is working to lure more people into the profession through a forthcoming pay deal and the construction of thousands of affordable homes

Leo Varadkar said negotiations will begin in the next couple of weeks with public sector unions around the next round of pay increases, which will support teachers.

Hundreds of teaching vacancies should be seen against a "backdrop" of increased teaching posts being rolled out and the lowest pupil teacher ratio ever, the Taoiseach has said.

Leo Varadkar has said the Government is working to lure more people into teaching through a forthcoming pay deal and the construction of thousands of affordable homes.