The classroom performance of about one second-level teacher in 35, or fewer than three per cent, is inspected annually by the Department of Education, according to the latest figures.
From a permanent teaching force of over 21,000, 604 teachers were inspected last year, with 664 the year before. The figures mean that most teachers have little prospect of facing an annual inspection, and some can complete their careers without any.
The Department uses the inspection system as the main means of assessing the quality of teaching in secondary schools.
In the past five years, fewer than 2,000 teachers in total have faced inspection, which involves a Department official entering the classroom and examining a teacher's ability.
Inspection figures have not been released for many years and the latest statistics were issued only after The Irish Times applied under the Freedom of Information Act.
They show a large increase in inspections since 1998. Before that fewer than 200 teachers were inspected annually. In the school year 1996/97, 142 teachers were inspected when there were almost 21,000 teachers in the system.
Traditionally, secondary teachers have resisted inspection and the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland (ASTI), which is currently taking industrial action, says its members are entitled to refuse to co-operate with an inspector.
The ASTI is also refusing to co-operate with the new inspection system, Whole School Evaluation (WSE). This is due in schools shortly and has been criticised by some parents' organisations as being too mild. The ASTI says that until the pay issue is dealt with it cannot consider WSE.
The Department of Education has said that WSE reports on schools will not be released to parents or the public. A recent opinion poll by Irish Marketing Surveys and the Irish Independent showed a clear majority of the public favours more evaluation of teachers' performance.
There are 44 inspectors working for the Department on school inspections. They not only inspect teachers, but also spend considerable time looking at how schools implement new programmes such as the Leaving Cert Applied and transition year.
The most inspected schools in the State over the last five years were: Community College, Moinin na gCiseach, Galway; Colaiste Lorcain, Castledermot, Co Kildare; St Joseph's Secondary School, Rush, Co Dublin; Abbey Vocational School, Donegal town; Colaiste Mhuire, Cobh, Co Cork; St Columba's College, Lifford, Co Donegal and Fingal Community College, Swords, Co Dublin.
The Department said these schools were the most inspected because many ran new programmes which inspectors were required to assess, such as the Leaving Certificate vocational programme.