It is reported this week that children will be sent home from schools because of a severe shortage of substitute teachers. There are high emigration levels among newly qualified national school teachers, who are lured by secure jobs and tax-free salaries in the Middle East in countries such as Dubai. This week, there are only 30 standing teachers available nationwide each day to cover absences across the country's 3,300 schools. According to the INTO, it takes up to 800 such substitutes to cover the country. We have some of the brightest teachers qualifying in our colleges but the Government offers them no encouragement to stay. What will the Government do to help address this very serious matter?

I ask the Minister for Education and Skills to respond.

I am glad to be in a position to tell the Deputy that we recruited this September 2,300 additional teachers and plan to recruit 2,400 additional teachers this coming September. Therefore, we are in a phase of expanding significantly the number of people employed in the teacher workforce. As the Deputy knows, with the INTO and TUI we have agreed a significant improvement in the pay and conditions for young teachers starting. A young teacher will see an increase of up to 15% in his or her starting pay, up to €35,600, and a teacher recruited last September will see an increase up to €37,500. Therefore, there are significant improvements. I acknowledge schools face difficulties in finding substitutes. That is a continuing problem but it arises against a background in which we are employing substantially more teachers each year. A study of teacher supply is currently being carried out to ensure we will be in a position to meet the growing demands.