Teaching becoming unaffordable as serious concerns expressed over workload – new TUI survey findings show that just 35% of new teachers receive contract of full hours
Full survey findings at end of statement
The findings of a new survey of over 1,000 Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) members set out a range of concerns, including the affordability of the profession for new entrants, excessive workload and the challenges posed by Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Serious concerns have also been expressed about the suitability of facilities in schools to facilitate the redeveloped Senior Cycle programme.
At a time when schools are struggling to put teachers in front of classrooms, the report shows that just 35% of those who entered teaching in the last ten years received a contract of full hours on initial appointment, while almost 80% of longer serving teachers question whether they could afford to enter the profession today.
The TUI is calling for targeted measures to ensure that teaching remains an attractive, sustainable profession with a fair and manageable workload.
The Union’s Annual Congress takes place this week in Kilkenny and will be attended by 500 delegates. It will be addressed by Minister for Education and Youth Hildegarde Naughton, TD and Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD.
Commentary on the survey findings from TUI President Anthony Quinn:
The online survey of 1,021 TUI members was carried out between 11th and 27th March 2026
Teaching is no longer a viable and sustainable profession for many
‘Teaching has become too expensive for many in Irish society, as evidenced by the current recruitment crisis which sees students experiencing larger class sizes and having less access to the full breadth of subjects.
The survey results show that of those who entered the profession since 2016, just 35% received a contract of full hours in their first year. Of these, it took most three years or more to secure a contract of full hours.
In terms of staff retention, it is also a concern that over a third (36%) of recent entrants do not believe they will be in the profession in ten years’ time.
Meanwhile, of those longer-serving teachers who entered the profession before 2016, 77% do not believe that they could afford to become a teacher today given fragments of jobs being offered at a time of significant cost-of-living and accommodation issues.
In terms of solutions, schools need greater teaching allocations to allow them to offer more than fractions of jobs, and the duration of the two-year Professional Master in Education (PME) required to teach at second level must be halved to make the profession more affordable. Excessive workload is also a serious issue in terms of teacher retention.
It is students who are losing out most, with 77% of respondents believing that the crisis has had a negative effect on the education service to pupils.’
Excessive workload, burnout and ‘initiative overload’
‘Over 90% believe that paperwork and bureaucratic workload regularly deflect from their core role of teaching, while the same proportion believe these duties have increased since they commenced their career. Two thirds of respondents disagree that these duties are ultimately of benefit to teaching and learning.
Just 14% of respondents believe that the so-called Croke Park hours, which TUI has referred to as a legacy of austerity, are of value to school communities.
88% believe there is an unreasonable expectation among policy-makers that schools should address all arising challenges in society, while 92% believe that ‘initiative overload’ is leading to burnout among teachers and principal teachers.’
The effects of an era of underfunding
‘Ireland’s education spend has consistently languished at the end of international tables for several years. It should come as little surprise then that 43% of respondents do not believe that their school has facilities suited to modern teaching and learning. It is extremely worrying that 66% have concerns about the availability of appropriate resources in their school to facilitate the redeveloped Senior Cycle. We will continue to demand a level playing field for all schools and students, irrespective of postcode.’
Artificial intelligence (AI)
‘It is concerning that 78% of respondents do not believe that the level of guidance provided by to date by the Department of Education and Youth on Artificial Intelligence (AI) is satisfactory. It is also worrying that 87% agree that it poses a threat to equity and fairness.’
‘93% of respondents believe the Department needs to provide continuing professional development to teachers in this area.’
‘Standing still is not an option here. The nettle must be grasped – we need a coherent and regulated national approach that optimises the potential benefits and protects against the risks that AI presents to the education system.’
Strong level of volunteerism
‘It will come as little surprise to anybody familiar with school communities that half of teachers (49%) are involved in volunteerism outside of timetabled hours such as sports, drama, music etc. Of these, 34% spend between two and four hours on such activities while 18% spend over four hours per week.’
Additional Educational Needs (AEN) supports
‘It is alarming that 68% do not believe that their school has the required supports to assist all students in the school with special educational needs.’ (ENDS)
Results of TUI pre-Congress 2026 survey of members in Post-Primary and Further Education and Training sectors
Survey of 1,021 TUI members was carried out online between 11th March and 27th March 2026
What sector do you mainly work in?
64% work in Post-Primary, while 36% work in FET.
Senior Cycle & School/centre facilities
- Indicate the extent to which you agree with the following statement: ‘My school/centre has facilities that are suited to modern teaching and learning methodologies.’
45% agreed or strongly agreed, 43% disagreed or strongly disagreed, 12% neither agreed nor disagreed
- Indicate the extent to which you agree with the following statement: ‘My school/centre has modern facilities that fully facilitate student work on additional assessment components (AACs) project work as part of Senior Cycle Assessment within my subject area(s).’
19% agreed or strongly agreed, 57% disagreed or strongly disagreed, 24% neither agreed nor disagreed
66% agreed or strongly agreed, 8% disagreed or strongly disagreed. 26% neither agreed nor disagreed.
- Indicate the extent to which you agree with the following statement: ‘The CAO system and resulting ‘points race’ needs to be overhauled for the benefit of students.’
71% agreed or strongly agreed, 13% disagreed or strongly disagreed. 16% neither agreed or disagreed
‘Croke Park’ hours
- Do you believe that the so-called Croke Park hours are of value to school communities?
72% do not believe they are of value, 14% believe they are of value with 14% saying that they don’t know
Artificial Intelligence
- Indicate the extent to which you agree with the following statement: ‘The Department of Education/DFHERIS need to provide continuing professional development (CPD) to teachers in relation to Artificial Intelligence.’
93% agreed or strongly agreed, 3% disagreed or strongly disagreed, 4% neither agreed nor disagreed
- Indicate the extent to which you agree with the following statement: ‘The level of guidance provided to date by the Department of Education and Youth on Artificial Intelligence are satisfactory.’
6% agreed or strongly agreed, 78% disagreed or strongly disagreed. 16% neither agreed nor disagreed.
- Indicate the extent to which you agree with the following statement: ‘AI poses a threat to equity and fairness in education, particularly in relation to assessments.’
87% agreed or strongly agreed. 4% disagreed or strongly disagreed. 9% neither agreed nor disagreed.
- Indicate the extent to which you agree with the following statement: ‘AI offers an opportunity to reduce teacher workload in terms of class contact preparation.’
60% agreed or strongly agreed. 20% disagreed or strongly disagreed. 20% neither agreed nor disagreed.
Bureaucratic workload and Extracurricular activities
- Indicate the extent to which you agree with the following statement: ‘Bureaucratic duties/paperwork regularly deflect from my core role of teaching.’
91% agreed or strongly agreed, 3% disagreed while 6% neither agreed nor disagreed.
- Indicate the extent to which you agree with the following statement: ‘Bureaucratic duties/paperwork that deflect from teaching have increased since I commenced my career.’
92% agreed or strongly agreed, 2% disagreed while 6% neither agreed nor disagreed
- Indicate the extent to which you agree with the following statement: ‘Bureaucratic duties/paperwork are ultimately of benefit to teaching and learning in schools.’
12% agreed or strongly agreed, 66% disagreed or strongly disagreed while 22% neither agreed nor disagreed.
- Are you involved in extracurricular activities in your school – outside of timetabled hours – such as sports, drama, music debating etc?
49% are involved, 51% are not
- Please only answer this question if you answered ‘Yes’ to the previous question. If so, how many hours on average did you spend engaged in such activities per week?
48% spend less than two hours; 34% spend between two and four hours; 18% spend over four hours per week
The role of schools
- Indicate the extent to which you agree with the following statement: ‘There is an unreasonable expectation among policy-makers that schools should address any arising challenges in society.’
88% agree or strongly agree with this statement; 3% disagree or strongly disagree; 9% neither agree nor disagree
- Indicate the extent to which you agree with the following statement: ‘The core roles of teaching and learning are becoming more difficult in schools due the effects of an era of initiative overload'.
92% agree or strongly agree with this statement; 1% disagree while 7% neither agree nor disagree
- Indicate the extent to which you agree with the following statement: ‘”Initiative overload” is leading to burnout among teachers and principal teachers.’
92% agreed or strongly agreed with this statement; 1% disagreed while 7% neither agreed nor disagreed
Housing/Accommodation issues
- Are you aware of colleagues who have ceased employment at your school/centre due to the accommodation crisis?
34% are aware of such colleagues; 66% are not.
- Do you believe that the housing/accommodation crisis has had an adverse effect on the lives of any students in your school or centre?
76% believe the accommodation crisis has had an adverse effect on students; 5% do not; 19% don’t know.
AEN supports
- Do you believe that your school has the required supports to assist all students in the school with special educational needs?
68% do not believe their school has the required supports to assist these students. 23% believe that their school has the supports. 9% do not know.
Recruitment/retention & attractiveness of teaching profession
‘Affordability’ of teaching profession
Please only answer the following question if you entered the profession before 2016 (i.e. ten years ago)
Do you think that you could afford to become a teacher today, given cost-of-living issues, the likelihood of starting on a contract of low hours and the accommodation crisis?
77% do not believe that they could afford to become a teacher today. 7% believe that they could; 16% are not sure
Section for post-2011 teachers only – please only complete the remaining questions if you commenced employment on or after 1st January 2011
- Were you offered a permanent position upon initial appointment?
17% were offered a permanent contract upon initial appointment, 83% were not
- Did you receive a contract of full hours upon initial appointment?
35% received a contract of full hours upon initial appointment, 65% did not
- If you answered ‘No’ to the previous question, how many years did it take you to receive a contract of full hours?
Of those who did not receive a contract of full hours upon initial appointment, it took 66% three years or more to receive one.
Attractiveness of teaching as a profession – for those in profession less than ten years
- At the moment, do you believe you will still be in the profession in ten years’ time?
36% do not believe they will be in the profession in ten years’ time; 29% do, 35% don’t know