Unions representing secondary school teachers have welcomed the Government's decision to give schools greater powers to expel and suspend disruptive pupils.

The Cabinet has reportedly approved plans to make it easier for schools to expel and suspend disruptive pupils.

Student absenteeism remains a huge problem nationwide, according to the National Education Welfare Board's latest annual report.

More than 100 special measures are being put in place to tackle disruptive students in schools, it was announced today.

A task force appointed by the Government to investigate school indiscipline has reportedly stopped short of recommending legal changes to tackle the matter.