1,080 new teaching posts are to be created this September to cater for a massive surge in enrolments in schools: 600 new posts at primary level, 330 at second-level, and a further 150 yet to be designated.

An even greater swell in pupil enrolments is forecast for September 2011, with the expectation that a further 1,000 or more new teaching jobs will be created at that stage.  

All this is excellent news for young teachers and emerging graduates who can now expect to be in high demand rather than be faced with enforced emigration or a place on the dole queue.  

However, the massive costs associated with current expansion will put huge pressure on public finances at a time when ministers are struggling to find €3bn in savings.

The Department of Education has confirmed that additional teachers’ salaries alone will cost the exchequer in the region of €40m a year, not to mention the cost of providing extra schools and classrooms.

Fears are rife that further drastic cuts in other areas of education will be considered necessary, especially in the third-level sector.

Of the 1,000,000 students in education in Ireland, over half a million are in primary schools, over 350,000 are in second level schools, and over 155,000 are at third level.

Projections indicate that in the course of the next decade there will be an increase of 70,000 in the number of pupils in primary schools alone. 
(Source: Irish Independent)