School leaders' union NAHT NI has welcomed today's announcement of £37 million towards teachers' pay in Northern Ireland.

Dr Graham Gault, NAHT NI national secretary, said: "We welcome today's commitment of £37 million towards teachers' pay. This investment represents a step in the right direction and goes some way towards recognising the professionalism and dedication of our teaching workforce.

"This announcement will, hopefully, help us enter negotiations on pay from a positive footing. It represents a good start, but there is still a journey ahead to properly address the pay disparity that has developed between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. Further investment will be required to restore teachers' pay in Northern Ireland and bring it back into line with our colleagues in England and Wales.

"We cannot allow the teaching profession in Northern Ireland to continue to fall behind. Our members deserve respect and a pay structure that reflects the true value of the work they do every single day for our children and young people.

"At a time when schools are in the grip of a recruitment and retention crisis, competitive pay is not a luxury - it is essential. If we want to attract and retain the best teachers for Northern Ireland's children, we must pay them accordingly."