Budget measures ‘not enough to stop young teachers from moving abroad’

By Gráinne Ní Aodha, PA

A young teacher has said that income tax changes will help young people in the profession with rising costs, but said ultimately the budget would not stop them from moving abroad.

David Donagh, 30, said that reducing class sizes, restoring posts of responsibility, and giving teachers a financial incentive to further their studies may encourage some teachers who are travelling abroad to stay at home.

He said that some teachers his age are forced to travel long distances every day because they cannot afford to live near where they work.

He said he is “lucky” because he still lives at home in Kingscourt, Co Cavan, a 20-minute drive from where he works at a primary school in Co Meath.

Reacting to Budget 2025, he said he was “disappointed” there was no commitment to reduce class sizes, but said that funding to hire 1,600 new special needs assistants and 768 teachers for special education “softens the blow”.

He said that income tax changes will help but will not stop young teachers from considering moving abroad to places like Dubai, where teachers’ incomes are not taxed and their rent is paid for.

“If there was anybody that was on the fence that was thinking of maybe Dubai or Australia, they could be more inclined towards going rather than staying,” he said after Budget 2025.

Mr Donagh, who is an intern with the INTO, added: “There were seven teachers I was talking to today after the Budget that were on the fence and I texted them all to ask is the Budget going to keep you in the country, and they’re all going after Christmas.

“Five of them are reg permanent jobs to go,” he said adding that they are aged 26 to 33.

He welcomed the rollout of a “Keep Childhood Smartphone Free” initiative, costing €9.0 million.

“In our school, we surveyed the third-class kids, and it was over 80% of them had either an iPhone or a Samsung Galaxy phone, so they are getting older, and it is something they could build on.”

He also said he was waiting to see what Education Minister Norma Foley would say at a press conference on Wednesday.

Asked about what the Government could do to encourage teachers to stay, Mr Donagh suggested: “The restoration of the posts of responsibility, like the assistant principal one and assistant principal two posts.

“It gives you a chance of promotion because a lot of people look at principalships now, and they say it’s too much work.”

He said that a financial incentive for teachers who further their own education – by doing a management or special education course – should be considered.

“I’m after completing my third masters in education leadership and management. That’s after costing €9,500, but I don’t get any extra for any of it. A lot of people would laugh and say, ‘why would you bother doing that?'”