What is the Government doing in response to the shortage of primary school teachers in particular? The Irish Primary Principals' Network, IPPN, said we are at crisis point and pointed to acute shortages in Dublin, Cork, Galway and Kildare. I speak on behalf of my own constituency in Meath where I know the situation is exactly the same. Many issues are raised such as the cost of rents and pay inequality. I know there have been some responses with regard to student teachers and there are the sub-seeker and teaching transforms programmes. Is there a focus on this and a plan to address the acute shortage?

Pay increases for teachers kick in this week. Teachers will receive their pay increase from the Department of Education in their payslips this week and throughout the month. It includes the back pay to February, which will obviously help financially. We have a teacher shortage of which we are very much aware and we are working on solutions. I believe the IPPN conference is happening today, and the Minister, Deputy Foley, will be there and will engage with the IPPN. It has made some good suggestions to which we need to give good consideration. I am told that much of the shortage is linked to this move away from the HDip to a two-year masters, which has knocked out the best part of a year's supply. I am not sure whether that was anticipated but it ought to have been. However, it will wash its way out of the system.