As many as one-fifth of primary schools across Ireland are at risk of losing teachers as educational budgets become more and more constrained.

Figures from the Department of Education and Skills have been highlighted by the Irish Independent that show 544 of the country's 3,153 mainstream schools were under pressure to maintain an extra teacher for the current academic year.

A similar situation is expected to arise next year, owing to the fact that recent budgetary cutbacks are squeezing the number of pupils required for an extra teacher.

Sean McMahon, vice-president of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation, told attendees at a recent conference on rebuilding rural communities that this problem is particularly serious in less urbanised areas.

He explained: "The biggest difficulty is for schools of 25 pupils or less that find themselves in a position where they lose their second teacher, and for those schools it's close to devastation."

This comes after the Irish Examiner reported last month that economic pressures are also resulting in fewer low-income families being given grants to help with the costs associated with going back to school.

Written by Donal Walsh

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