The practice of using untrained people to fill gaps in staffing at schools has become so widespread that some primary pupils go three to four years without being taught by a qualified teacher, it was claimed last night.
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Science was told more than half the Catholic primary schools in urban areas used unqualified teachers to fill gaps in staffing, and about a quarter of rural Church of Ireland schools did the same.
Representatives from various education bodies said a shortage of primary teachers had become a "major crisis" in the sector. An Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) spokesman, Mr Donal O Lionsigh, said children in disadvantaged schools were most likely to be taught for several years by people without teaching qualifications.
Mr O Lionsigh said there were about 700 unqualified teachers working in primary schools fulltime at present and another 800 unqualified teachers working as substitutes. This meant a shortfall of 1,500 qualified teachers in the system. With 1,800 qualified teachers expected to leave the system over the next three years, he said a major deficit was likely to occur.
He said the only immediate solution was to recruit qualified teachers from the US, Australia and Canada. These teachers should have their qualifications fully recognised, and not be paid an untrained rate by the Department of Education, which was the current situation.
"There are schools throughout the country with full-time permanent positions vacant without a single applicant," he said, adding "currently it is impossible to get trained substitutes anywhere in the country".
Sister Eileen Randles of the Catholic Primary Schools Managers Association (CPMSA) said many rural schools were only able to fulfil their staffing requirements by using retired teachers on a substitute basis.
One of the committee's members, Mr Trevor Sargent of the Green Party, disclosed details of a survey he had completed on the subject which showed that some 145 of 496 rural Catholic schools surveyed were dependant on unqualified teachers to fill gaps.
Of 295 urban Catholic schools, Mr Sargent's survey found that 178 used unqualified teachers, and of 42 rural Church of Ireland schools, 11 were using unqualified teachers. Of the 18 urban non-denominational schools surveyed, 13 said they were in a similar position.
Rev John McCullough of the Church of Ireland Board of Education said what "exacerbated" the situation was the desire of schools to recruit people who were "comfortable" and familiar with their religious ethos.
He said many schools were forced to use people with no qualification other than a Leaving Certificate, who were "essentially minding children and not teaching them".
Ms Deirdre O'Donoghue, co-ordinator of Educate Together, which represents multi-denominational schools, said schools often ended up competing for good substitute teachers.