11th December 2025
Deirdre O’Connor, INTO Deputy General Secretary and Anne Horan, INTO President both attended the meeting of the Joint Committee on Education and Youth yesterday. The session was convened to explore the recruitment and retention challenges facing schools.
Joined by the General Secretaries and Presidents of both TUI and ASTI, Deirdre O’Connor stressed that the ongoing staffing shortages in primary and special schools are placing intolerable pressure on teachers and principals, undermining both staff wellbeing and pupil learning. The INTO was clear that without decisive government intervention, the crisis will deepen, particularly in DEIS schools, Gaelscoileanna, and special education settings.
This Joint Committee meeting follows the publication yesterday morning of new research from DCU Create entitled Teacher Occupational Wellbeing Research 2025, which revealed that 86% of teachers report moderate to high burnout, with workload cited as the leading cause. Administrative burdens, curriculum overload, and unrealistic expectations from parents are leaving teachers struggling to cope.
INTO’s contribution at the committee underscores INTO’s broader campaign for a comprehensive workload review and a long-term plan to make teaching in Ireland sustainable, which calls for:
- Expansion of substitute supply panels to ensure schools can access qualified cover.
- Improved recruitment strategies to attract teachers back from abroad and retain new graduates.
- Better working conditions and supports to address burnout and workload concerns.
Watch the recording here (begins at 40.30): https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/oireachtas-tv/video-archive/committees/10992