Common Salary scale: £14,304 to £27,803 (July 1998). There are additional allowances for academic qualifications, posts of responsibility, principals and deputy principals.

Source: INTO

Cut-off points for primary teaching courses 1998/99:

St Patrick's, Drumcondra, Dublin: 470* Mary Immaculate, Limerick: 465* Marino, Dublin: 460* Froebel, Dublin: 460* Church of Ireland, Dublin: 400 * random selection applied; not all applicants at this points level were offered places

Cut-off points for Gaeltacht applicants for primary teaching courses 1998/99:

St Patrick's, Drumcondra: 430 Mary Immaculate, Limerick: 420 Marino, Dublin: 420* Froebel, Dublin: 425

Postgraduate courses:

The higher diploma, which is offered at postgraduate level in five colleges, is the main route of entry to second-level teaching. There is a centralised application system for the four NUI colleges; TCD operates its own entry system. An 18-month graduate course is run on an occasional basis to boost the supply of primary teachers available. This is open to graduates of all disciplines. Number of H Dip places for 1998: UCD: 190; UCC 210; NUI Galway 210; NUI Maynooth 170; TCD 120

Concurrent teacher training courses:

These courses - PE, home economics, music, science (UL), materials and construction technology, materials and engineering technology, art and design education - qualify their graduates to work as teachers in second-level schools (there is no need to do a higher diploma).

Numbers of teachers:

INTO: Over 20,000 members (all of Ireland) ASTI: Over 15,000 members in the Republic TUI: Over 11,000 members in the Republic