Protests greet Taoiseach in Co Cork

Taoiseach Enda Kenny was greeted with protests in his visit to Co Cork last night.

Around 700 people held a protest in West Cork last night, during the Taoiseach's visit to the town of Bantry.

Mr Kenny was there attending the retirement function of two former Fine Gael TDs.

However, parents and teachers from the Save Our Small Schools West Cork group held up placards and protested against cutbacks to education.

The group is calling for the reversal of increases in the pupil-teacher ratio in two, three and four-teacher primary schools.

The changes were part of a series of education cuts announced in December's Budget.

There was another protest outside Cork City Hall where the Taoiseach attended a functionlast night.

Around 100 people,including members of the Cork Occupy group and the Socialist Party, voiced their opposition to a number of Government decisions, including the household charge.

Mr Kenny and Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney were at the annual dinner of the Cork Chamber of Commerce.

Sinn Fein TD for Cork Jonathan O'Brien says the working people of Ireland have had enough.