A union representing secondary school teachers says more needs to be done to encourage registered teachers to take up vacant posts.
The ASTI says there are 122-thousand registered teachers, but only 70-thousand are employed in teaching jobs here.
The union is calling for the policy of offering part-time hours to new entrants to be scrapped, with the hopes of attracting those who’ve moved abroad to return home.
ASTI General Secretary and Sligo native Kieran Christie, says a huge number of qualified teachers aren’t working in classrooms:
