Over a third of schools were unable to find a substitute teacher on 10 or more occasions since September.
This startling revelation came from Pairic Clerkin, CEO of the Irish Primary Principal's Network (IPPN), on RTÉ's Morning Ireland. Pairic said that recent surveys show up to 36 percent of schools were put in such a precarious situation.
As well, according to the Irish Times only 66 percent of teachers' absences were covered by a registered teacher between September and the end of October 2017.
The IPPN is calling for the Department of Education to be more adaptable when attempting to resolve this issue.
The Minister for Education has acknowledged this dearth of substitute teachers, RTÉ reports, and he said that the Department is looking at solutions.
In order to address what Pairic described as a 'severe shortage of substitute teachers', Minister Richard Bruton is fielding suggestions from various groups.
Some proposed ideas include lengthening the period that teachers on a career break can work and giving retired teachers the chance to step in as substitutes.
Pairic further explained several possible solutions to the substitute teacher shortage on RTÉ.
"There are a number of solutions which include pay equalisation among newly graduated teachers and existing staff as well as extending the cover of substitute teachers which is currently capped at 90 days when they are replacing teachers on career break," the CEO said.
He also acknowledged that many young teachers are moving abroad, where they are 'highly regarded'.
"We need to keep our graduates in the country; they are being actively recruited by other jurisdictions at the moment," Pairic stated.
Minister Bruton noted that the government is working to swiftly increase the number of employed teachers.
