A new induction programme to help primary school teachers who are qualifying this year has been announced.

Minister for education Mary Coughlan revealed the plans to provide new teachers with the scheme, which will take place for a minimum of 20 hours outside of school time over the course of the year.

The Irish Times reported that the programme will allow development opportunities and further professional support for the newly qualified, with the induction sessions to be rolled out to post-primary educators next year.

It is hoped that the additional support will work as a boost to teaching quality and help make the transition from trainee to practising teacher smoother.

Ms Coughlan said that the new programme is "part of a new probationary process that has robust external and internal verification mechanisms".

In a recent court case it was ruled that the private Catholic University School is entitled to pay two teachers its employs directly less than those who are employed through the Department of Education.

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