Report on Teacher Workload Welcomed

02nd Dec, 2025

Report on Teacher Workload Welcomed

Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta (CnaG) welcomes the final report of The Independent Review of Teacher Workload, commissioned by the Department of Education, and in particular, those comments and recommendations relating to the issue of excessive workload in Irish-medium education. 

CnaG met with the Review panel earlier this year and outlined the numerous issues affecting practitioners in the Irish-medium sector, including the findings of a research report carried out by the Centre for Educational Underachievement (CREU) at Stranmillis University, entitled Teacher Workload in the Irish medium Sector; Evidential Insights.  

This research concluded that there were a number of issues, specific to IME, that resulted in IM practitioners working well beyond the recommended 1265 hours, and which had a detrimental effect on morale as well as physical and mental health. These issues include the additional time needed to create suitable resources and assessments, poor accommodation and infrastructure and issues around adequate teacher supply. 

CnaG CEO, Maria Thomasson gave a guarded welcome to the findings of the report but warned that urgent action was now needed to fully address the long-standing issues affecting the IM sector, despite the enduring enthusiasm and dedication of IM practitioners: 

“We welcome the recognition in this report of the unique challenges faced by Irish-medium practitioners. For too long, these dedicated professionals have carried an unfair burden, creating resources and assessments without the support routinely available in English-medium settings. The findings from both the Independent Review Panel and the CREU research confirm what we have long known: excessive workload is having a serious impact on morale and wellbeing. While this acknowledgment is an important step forward, urgent action is now required from the Minister to implement measures that will alleviate these pressures and ensure equity for Irish-medium practitioners.” 

The CREU report Teacher Workload in the Irish medium Sector; Evidential Insights, can be accessed here; Publications – Comhairle English 

The Independent Review of Teacher Workload report can be accessed here: Independent Review of Teacher Workload – Final Report | Department of Education