The number of temporary and agency staff at the Department of Education in Northern Ireland has more than doubled in the last three years, and with it the cost of the financial outlay, reports The Belfast Telegraph. Figures revealed by the Department of Education show £2.8 million has been spent over the last five years to plug gaps in the organisation.

In 2019/20, the department employed 17 people on temporary contracts or through an agency at a cost of £314,941. While the extra staffing level remained at 17 in the next two years, the cost rose to £547,955 in 2020/21 and then to £567,357 a year later. There was a big jump in the number of those employed either through an agency or on a temporary basis in 2022/23, with 25 roles filled at a cost of £702,149. While the overall cost fell to £697,047 last year (2023/24), the numbers employed rose to 37.

SDLP MLA (Social Democratic and Labour Party, member of legislative assembly) Daniel McCrossan said, "While I understand that there will be instances when these types of staff will be needed, their use should not become the norm. When the department needs to recruit staff, they should make every effort to fill posts permanently. This would not only reduce the spending on temporary staff, but provide these staff with job security and the experience needed to perform the job to the best of their ability.”

A Department of Education spokesperson said, "Agency workers are engaged to undertake temporary pieces of work, or to provide urgent cover while awaiting recruitment of a permanent member of staff. The number of agency workers fluctuates throughout the year. The number reported is the amount working at the end of the financial year (2023/24 is the February 2024 figure)."