1400. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth to outline her Department proposals to streamline access to full-time permanent positions for Irish secondary school teachers looking to return from abroad; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58818/26]

Although certain schools experience ongoing challenges in recruiting teachers, as of November 2025, there were over 75,000 teachers employed in schools across Ireland and over 98% of allocated teaching posts were filled. There are several measures in place to support post primary teachers who are working abroadto return to Ireland.

The Department of Education and Youth currently has a scheme in place which allows for teachers who work in an Oireachtas funded teaching post to apply for incremental credit with respect topreviousteaching service which theyaccruedwhile teaching outside of Ireland. The criteria for the award of incremental credit are set out in the Department’s Circulars 29/2007 and 29/2010 for post primary teachers. The criteria for the award of incremental credit to recognised teachers was agreed under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC). These circulars provide for the award of incremental credit in respect of overseas teaching service both within and outside the EU.

Turas Abhaile is an initiative of the Association of Community and Comprehensive Schools (ACCS) and the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD), which hasassistedteachers based abroad to return to teach in Ireland since September 2019. Turas Abhaile matches teachers with specific vacancies and participating schools tofacilitateonline interviews to suit the preferences of candidates.

In addition, mydepartmentrecently approved regulations to allow teachers who qualified overseasto undertake theirinduction in the State. This will help to encourage teachers abroad to take up teaching roles in Ireland.

There have been several measures taken to address subject-specific teacher shortages applicable for post primary level:

• STEM Bursary: a €2,000 annual bursary for student teachers in STEM fields during the final two years of their undergraduate teacher education, with a requirement to complete at least 2 years of teaching post-qualification in a recognised post-primary school;

• Upskilling programmes: free upskilling programmes for teachers are offered in high-demand subjects: Irish, French, politics and society, and computer science maths, physics, and Spanish.

I am considering further measures to strengthen the teaching workforce and ensure that schools have the support needed to provide an excellent education for every student.