Delegates present at the yearly gathering of the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) raised the issue that teachers are departing the educational field in large numbers. An increased burden of administrative duties was highlighted as a key factor that was making the teaching profession unrecognisable.
Sean Hegarty, a spokesperson from the Dublin Tolka unit of the union, addressed the Derry conference attendees stating the teachers’ role had undergone tremendous changes in the last ten years. However, these new duties and accountabilities were not being reflected in their remuneration. He emphasised that teachers felt undervalued and were being compelled to turn to extra work to meet their living costs due to meagre wages and rising living expenses.
A point of consensus at the conference was the need to address the financial inequity newer teachers faced. Although a new pay agreement had been implemented, Gregor Kerr, a delegate from Dublin, advised that teachers needed to look ahead to future deals. It was notioned that special allowances for further qualifications should be reinstated, as their prior withdrawal left newer teachers disadvantaged financially.
Rory Healy, representing the Tullow, Co Carlow, advised it was critical for teachers to advance their skills. Although, he noted few fiscal benefits incentivised this.
Fergal Brougham who is a school principal as well as a representative from Dublin northeast, opined that despite having a seemingly competent system, there were challenges. Teachers were unable to provide the necessary support for children with special needs due to lack of training. The increasing volume of paperwork was also bogging them down.
Furthermore, a proposal was put forward at the conference for a negotiation with the Department of Education. The union’s executive was directed to push for an allowance, similar to London’s, to account for the rising cost of city living. This London allowance added an extra 20% to the salaries of teachers working in inner London, and an additional 15% in outer London. The delegates called for a similar allowance for Irish city-based teachers.
On Tuesday, representatives expressed concerns over the soaring living and housing expenses in Irish cities, making it challenging for urban schools to attract and maintain teaching staff. This predicament has resulted in an unprecedented teacher shortage, amounting to 2,000 vacancies, according to the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO).
Following a similar resolution approved by representatives at last year’s INTO convention, the current strategy remains uncertain. The INTO leadership is faced with the challenge of implementing this pay demand against a backdrop of opposition from the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI) and the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI), both of which are against additional compensation for teachers based on their geographical location.
Órlaith Ní Fhoghlú, a representative from Dublin, revealed survey data highlighting the difficulties Dublin principals face in hiring. “Numerous attempts to address the supply issue have been made, but the existing reality, where almost two-thirds of open positions are in Dublin, is unsustainable,” she stated.
Many teachers expressed strong disagreement on this matter, opposing the proposition of extra pay for city-based teachers. Tomás O’Reilly, a delegate from North Roscommon, argued that the concept of pay weighting had proven ineffective in London. Describing it as misguided solution, he claimed it wouldn’t support teacher recruitment or ease the housing crisis.
John Boyle, INTO’s general secretary, explained the obvious necessity for key public and private sector employees, unable to work remotely, to live near their workplaces. However, he shared that the matter of an urban salary weighting had not advanced since the 2023 conference. Despite presenting it, other members of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions didn’t consider it a priority, hence it didn’t succeed. Uncertain aspects of the scheme include deciding who qualifies for the allowance, the overall conditions, and whether it’s for Dublin residents or workers commuting from farther locations.