A lack of available jobs in Ireland is creating a surplus of primary school teacher graduates.

There are no positions open for around 600 graduates who finish their studies every year, which means many individuals are left disappointed when they fail to find work despite gaining the right qualifications, the Irish Independent reports.

The news also suggests these graduates, as well as the Exchequer, are spending lots of money on courses that are not leading them to a job.

A spokesperson for Education Minister Ruairi Quinn said: "The minister is anxious to ensure that forecasting mechanisms are developed to ensure an adequate supply of primary and post-primary teachers with the required qualifications."

New teachers are also facing difficulties after problems with the Department of Education's payroll system resulted in individuals who qualified in 2012 not being on the correct pay rates since September - which means they are now waiting for money owed to them to be paid back by the department, the Irish Examiner reported. 

Written by Donal Walsh

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