It may be the top job in teaching, but many Irish schools are struggling to recruit principals.

According to the Irish Independent, the number of people applying for headteacher positions had dropped in recent years.

"A few years ago a school could expect an average of five or six applicants for a principal's job. Now some schools are lucky if they get two applicants and posts are remaining unfilled," Sean Cottrell, director of the Irish Primary Principals' Network, told the publication.

Peter Mullan, a spokesman for the Irish National Teachers Organisation, said many teachers are of the opinion that the small pay increase is not worth the added responsibility of having to deal with extra administration work and the upkeep of school buildings.

It was revealed earlier this year that around 662 principals have retired since 2007, with a further 551 deputy headteachers leaving their posts during the same period.

Written by Donal Walsh

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