Teachers who qualified outside Ireland should be able to register 'in an expedient manner' to work here, Education Minister Norma Foley has said.

It comes as schools are dealing with staff shortages, particularly in the Dublin area as a result of high rents and lack of available housing.

Minister Foley told Newstalk Breakfast she has asked the Teaching Council to bring in more efficient measures to register teachers who qualified outside of the State.

"They have now agreed that teachers who qualify in the UK that they can do their induction in Ireland," she said.

"I've specifically asked The Teaching Council to address that issue in terms of those who qualified outside of the State, the manner in which they can register - and the expedient manner in which they need to register - to return home.

"The Teaching Council have agreed in terms of those who have qualified in the UK that they can do their induction here in Ireland".

Weighted salaries

Asked if a salary weighting system would be the answer, similar to the UK where teachers are paid higher salaries in London than other areas, she said the starting salary for teachers here is higher.

"I'm conscious that people reference the London allowance, as it were, in particular," she said.

"When you look at, I suppose, the situation for our teachers as they begin into their careers, we're looking at, in and around, €40,000.

"That would be on a par, if not greater in some instances, of what's being offered in terms of the additional allowance being made available in London.

"The salary that is available to staff is a salary that's available across the country.

"I do recognise that there are challenges in more places than in others; therefore, for that reason, the Department of Housing are looking at accelerating availability of housing right across the country - including Dublin".

'Teaching is an attractive career'

Minister Foley said she believes teachers are well paid.

"I think comparatively speaking in terms of other careers, currently where we're looking at the end of '23, is €41,000 teachers will be on.

"There are career paths within teaching as well in terms of other opportunities to augment that.

"I don't think it is appropriate to pit one career against another career, and from a monetary point of view say one is more valuable than another".

"In the round, I think we need to acknowledge that teaching is an attractive career, it remains an attractive career," she added.