A new report into teacher wellbeing makes clear that conditions in schools have reached a critical tipping point, according to Social Democrats education spokesperson Jen Cummins.
Deputy Cummins said:
“The 2025 DCU Create Teacher Occupational Wellbeing study shows that teachers are experiencing unprecedented pressure, with many reporting that the demands of their roles are pushing them toward exhaustion and causing them to consider leaving the profession altogether.
“The findings make clear that teacher wellbeing has reached a critical tipping point.
“The Department of Education must take immediate and meaningful action – stress and burnout cannot be dismissed as isolated challenges faced by individual teachers, but a systemic issue that threatens recruitment, retention, and the capacity of schools to deliver high-quality education.
“Unless decisive steps are taken to address teacher workload, mental-health supports, and working conditions, the education system will continue to lose dedicated professionals at a time when shortages are already severe.
“I’m calling on the Department to acknowledge the findings of today’s report, and to provide transparent data on staffing levels, recruitment and retention trends across all school types.
“Pressures are particularly acute in DEIS schools, special education settings, and Irish-medium schools, where teacher shortages are already impacting pupils’ educational experience.
“The government must engage proactively with stakeholders develop a sustainable response that matches the urgency of the crisis now being experienced in classrooms nationwide.
“The implications of continued teacher burnout are far-reaching. Without intervention, the shortage of qualified teachers will worsen, the workload of remaining staff will intensify, and the quality of education delivered to pupils will inevitably suffer.
“The wellbeing of teachers is directly connected to the wellbeing and outcomes of students – failing to act now would have long-term consequences for children, families, and school communities.
“The profession is filled with talented, dedicated, brilliant teachers who are being driven to breaking point – the Government must take this crisis seriously.”
December 9th, 2025