40% of Irish primary schools are running a deficit just to provide heating and other essential services.

Extra middle-management posts being created from next autumn should allow school leaders give more time to improving education and other work, Education Minister Richard Bruton has told primary school principals.

Primary school principals are discussing what can be done to ensure children are "school-ready".

Primary schools are being overloaded with changes to curricular emphasis without proper guidance, training or other supports from the Department of Education, the head of their principals’ body claimed.