Teachers working overseas should be offered greater financial incentives to return home, the Teachers Union of Ireland has claimed.

Around 4,600 people registered with the Teaching Council are working abroad and research by the council has found that most of them are aged between 25 and 34.

Currently, teachers in Ireland get a pay rise for every year they work; however, some teachers working overseas are not entitled to these incremental pay increases. 

TUI General Secretary Michael Gillespie said it means experienced teachers are paid as if they have only just graduated from college. 

“They may come back with the deposit for a house but they cannot get the mortgage,” he said. 

“First of all, they can’t get a permanent job - so, they can’t get a mortgage. 

“Secondly, they’re starting on the lowest point of the [salary] scale, [so] the mortgage they can get is too small. 

“So, we’re absolutely disincentivising them from coming back.” 

A teacher in class with students. Image: Roman Lacheev / Alamy Stock Photo

Mr Gillespie said fewer and fewer young teachers want to stay in Ireland when they graduate. 

“Many don’t even wait to get the full-time job now,” he said. 

“They’re going straight away or they’re going after a year once they’ve got their registration. 

“Once they’ve got their registration, they’re gone; if they’re refused a career break, they will resign because there’s nothing to keep them. 

“We’ve lost all the things that attract public servants into the position.”  

Many schools - particularly in Dublin - currently struggle to recruit teachers because of the high cost of living. 

Main image shows a teacher in front of a blackboard. Image by: Britta Pedersen/DPA/PA Images