‘Government must move on from austerity mindset’ – ASTI General Secretary calls for investment in schools and teachers
Investing in teachers and schools is essential to curbing the teacher recruitment and retention crisis in Ireland, ASTI General Secretary Kieran Christie told delegates attending the union’s Annual Convention today (Wednesday, April 8th 2026).
“The Government has never moved on from the mindset of the recession and the austerity years of a decade ago and more. They seem to have no comprehension of the need to incorporate into public sector agreements, measures that would tilt towards addressing the daily problems that workers face – be they housing, childcare, healthcare or other big issues. The truth is that workers are only standing still or going backwards.”
Mr Christie said that the well-documented underfunding of schools in Ireland, coupled with growing demands on schools to continuously innovate and adapt to address emerging social challenges, means that teachers are experiencing a widening gap between what is expected of them and the realities of time and resources.
Online safety
Mr Christie also told delegates that while new and developing technologies can support education and learning, it is also exposing teachers to new forms of online harm. “Teachers’ public-facing role makes them particularly vulnerable to online abuse. Increasingly, teachers are finding themselves targeted by online harassment, cyber-bullying and defamatory commentary.” He said that even where incidents are infrequent, they can have a profound impact on teachers’ mental health.
“Technology companies and regulators must be held accountable. Strong enforcement of online safety laws, faster removal of harmful content and clearer legal protections are essential.”
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