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Pringle slams O’Leary for ‘disgraceful’ remarks, calls for stronger supports for teachers
- Updated: 11th November 2024
Independent TD for Donegal, Thomas Pringle, has slammed Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary’s disgraceful comments about teachers, saying successive governments have failed to recognise teachers’ critical work and the resulting teacher shortage is affecting schools in Donegal and across the country.
Deputy Pringle said: “Michael O’Leary’s disgraceful comments about teachers at the launch of a Fine Gael candidate’s election campaign over the weekend showed a shocking disregard for the invaluable work teachers do, and for the significant difference they make in their students’ lives.
“But that should come as no surprise, given that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have also failed over decades to meaningfully support teachers and the work they do.
“The sad reality is that teachers are often in precarious employment, due to a lack of permanent contracts for newly qualified teachers, who are paid less than teachers recruited before 2011. Teachers in this country are offered very little though they also face the same accommodation shortage, same high rental costs, same cost-of-living crisis. Is it any wonder that we are seeing high emigration rates among our newly qualified teachers?
“The teacher shortage is affecting schools nationwide. In Donegal and across the country, the teacher shortage means that schools are experiencing significant problems in recruiting and retaining teachers.
“I have heard on the doors from parents who are concerned about the impact of teacher shortages on the school day, and of children who sit through back-to-back free classes. Principals can struggle to find teachers to even supervise classes.
“To ensure we have the number of teachers we need, we need a government that will recognise the vital services teachers provide and make the profession more attractive to people.
“Teacher contracts and pay must be restored to pre-2011 levels.
“Schools rely heavily on student teachers, yet Professional Master of Education (PME) students are under pressure to complete what can amount to full school weeks of school placement due to current shortages, while many must also take on a job to afford the €10,000+ cost of the two-year programme and the cost of living in Dublin. The PME should be a one-year course, with course fees reduced to €3,000.
“The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation has called for the next government to restructure salary scales, making them fairer and more competitive; to provide incentives to retain teachers; to reduce class sizes in mainstream schools to 19, reduce class sizes in DEIS Band 1 schools to 15, and reduce class sizes in special schools and special classes; and to train additional primary teachers to achieve target class sizes, among other measures.
“The intake of special needs assistants (SNAs) must also be increased, with a continuation of the professionalisation of SNAs, to ensure their vital position in the classroom is respected alongside all other school staff.
“Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael candidates will talk about the importance of teachers, but we have seen that the policies of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in government do not match those words with action,” he said.
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