It is “absolutely ludicrous” that teachers are entitled to a five-year career break as soon as they qualify, Shane Coleman has warned.

It comes as teaching unions warn that there is a shortage of almost 1,000 primary school teachers around the country.

A survey by the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO), Irish Primary Principals’ Network and the Catholic Primary Schools Management Association finds that there currently 951 vacant posts in Ireland’s primary and special schools.

The unions are warning that schools are increasingly asking people who are unqualified or not registered with the Teaching Council to cover short-term absences.

The shortage is most acute in Dublin, Wicklow and Kildare where more than half of schools are reporting unfilled teaching posts.

"Absolutely ludicrous.”

On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, presenter Shane Coleman said it is clear that Ireland has a “real problem” when it comes to recruiting teachers.

He said there are two main issues causing the crisis – the lack of a Dublin allowance and teacher’s ability to take long career breaks when they are starting out in the profession.

“The unions of course will run a mile from this but we have a system at the moment where, as soon as you are made a full-time primary school teacher, you can take a career break – and there are thousands of people who are doing that,” he said.

“I'm sorry, I think that is absolutely ludicrous.”

A child hangs up her coat on named hangers at a school in County Donegal, Ireland, 4/10/12, Image: Richard Wayman / Alamy Stock Photo

He said he understands that teaching is a “stressful profession” – but said teachers should be required to work for a minimum amount of time before career breaks become an option.

“The idea that as soon as you become a permanent teacher, you can immediately take a five-year career break, like, I'm sorry that only happens in Ireland,” he said.

“It doesn't happen anywhere else; I think that is a joke.

“Of course, the unions will not face up to that and they'll give out about a lack of teachers, but they won't suggest a way of fixing it.

“The Government dipped their toe in the water about changing that a couple of years ago and they were quickly told where to go by the unions on it.

“So look, I think that's a real problem.”

Career break

Under current rules, teachers are allowed to take career breaks of no less than one year – and can extend it on an annual basis up to five years.

They can take a total of ten years over their career; however, after their first break they must work in a school for the same length of time they were away before taking a second break.

Teachers can apply for a career break provided they are registered with the Teaching council and have completed 12 months of continuous employment with their school.

Dublin Allowance

Shane also called for the introduction of a Dublin allowance to encourage more teachers to consider working in the capital.

“Obviously if you're a teacher from Leitrim you're going to choose to teach at home in Leitrim and buy a house there at a third of the price,” he said.

“You get the same wage in Dublin as you do in Leitrim or Longford but you’re living in a different economy because it is so much cheaper there.

“So, I think at Dublin allowance should be brought in.”

According to the survey, special schools have the most vacancies to fill – with more than half reporting unfilled posts.

Nearly 40% of schools said they were forced to split classes up into other classrooms when a substitute teacher could not be found in the first five weeks of the school year.