“Living in Dublin Becoming Impossible for Teachers,” Says Kate Relihan from Blanchardstown
According to Kate Relihan, a Blanchardstown-based teaching professional, the rising cost of life in Dublin is pushing teachers out of the city. The increase in rates, such as her rising €200 tracker mortgage, and doubled utility bills makes it unsustainable for teachers to afford living in the metropolis. With rent prices sky-high and limited school seat availability, teachers are facing a turnover rate due to the expense of €1,000 monthly for a tiny room. She suggested that incentives like city weighting will help, urging the use of teacher shortage leverage. Despite the agreed agenda of the union to work on a city allowance, she lamented the lack of action in this aspect.
Housing Shortages and High Demand: The Real Issue in Urban Living, says Tomás O’Reilly from Roscommon
Tomás O’Reilly, a Roscommon-based teacher, opined that city weighting might not be the ultimate solution to the challenges urban teachers are facing. Countering concerns raised about the high cost of living in Dublin, he pointed out the ignored rural issues, such as the need for private transportation due to the absence of public transit options. He also highlighted the inconvenient availability of services, like having their local GP only available twice a week, and the village’s lack of services. His stress lied in the failure of the Government to provide enough affordable housing to meet the high demand.
Conall Ó Dufaigh Recognises Potential, But Criticises Temporary Solution of Allowances
Conall Ó Dufaigh, a teacher from County Wicklow’s Bray, perceived the concept of an allowance as a mere band-aid solution to the deeper socioeconomic problems at hand.
“The ever-increasing cost of living in cities, particularly in Ireland, I believe, plays a significant role in the current teaching crisis. However, more fundamental issues concerning housing and living expenses need to be tackled. A wiser and more enduring solution would be focusing on these issues rather than on specific allowance allocations for particular cities where costs fluctuate. Currently, solutions appear more akin to quick fixes than genuine problem-solving.
The government should focus its efforts on significantly boosting social housing investment. This would help alleviate the strain on the private sector for both renters and homeowners, allowing property prices to decrease. This would subsequently make city living more affordable, leading to an increase in staffing for our schools and public services.
London, traditionally seen as separate from the rest of England, has a culture in which allowances are ingrained. However, an allowance alone will not alleviate the challenges in meeting teacher demands in a metropolis like Dublin, as it would merely add a small bandage to a much larger wound. Furthermore, it would likely arouse sentiments of injustice from Cork, Galway and other locales. A more comprehensive solution is needed to address the cost of living crisis present nationwide.
Despite it being seen as only a Dublin problem historically, the issue of cost of housing for educators should ideally be evaluated in Cork and other urban areas as well. Living an hour and a half away, I travel to work from Meath daily. It was quite shocking to learn that some junior lecturers at TU Dublin have been resorting to couch surfing due to lack of affordable housing. This alarming situation makes it exceptionally challenging to recruit teaching staff for many schools as well as colleges.”
“We clearly require a whole host of policy adjustments relating to our work style, enhanced management of various aspects, and steps towards making housing more affordable, especially to assist individuals who are currently finding it tough to afford suitable lodging.”
‘60% of my earnings are spent on rent’
Aoife Claffey, from Dublin, expressed,
“Securing a job within the country was quite a challenge. I originally hail from Kilkenny, so I made the decision to shift to Dublin to rent. Locating a place that was only half an hour away from my workplace was an uphill task. Now, about 60 per cent of my earnings are squandered on rent.
“Our school is facing massive shortages and a significant reason for this is that people are hesitant to move to Dublin. Undoubtedly, it’s a colossal issue, but disbursing a stipend would just act as a transient solution to an enduring problem. It’s not going to resolve the situation; it’s just a temporary stopgap as people aspire to establish a stable life.
“Individuals aspire to own a home or have a stable place to reside. What’s required is housing at reasonable prices along with fair rent. The crucial element is not to rent from enormous corporations that have a track record of escalating rent year on year.”