That's according to Longford Westmeath TD Sorca Clarke.
The Education Minister needs to acknowledge the cost of living pressures facing teachers living in cities.
That's the call from the Irish National Teachers' Organisation, ahead of its annual conference next week.
The union says pay needs to be increased, and urgent measures need to be introduced to ease the current workload.
Deputy General Secretary, Deirdre O'Connor says teachers often train in cities, but cannot afford to live there after graduating.
Meanwhile, Sinn Fein is raising concerns about a proposal to share teachers in 'high demand' subjects won't have the necessary impact.
A pilot scheme is due to start in secondary schools in September.
It's reported the initiative would allow two schools to enter a teacher-sharing deal.
The party's Education spokesperson and Longford Westmeath Deputy Sorca Clarke says more steps are needed to retain teachers:
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