Thousands protest at Taoiseach's constituency office

More than 3,000 people took to the streets in Castlebar in Co Mayo today, in protest against the Government's plans to increase the pupil-teacher ratio.

The Save Our Small Schools campaign group, who organised the rally, are calling on the Government to reverse this decision, saying that it will force hundreds of small schools to close.

The protestors picketed the Taoiseach's constituency office and handed in a petition and letter.

Independent TD Luke 'Ming' Flanagan was among those who took part in the protest.

"The question must be asked - where is the plan to get rural Ireland up and running again?" he said.

"In such a way that in the future you won't be talking about closing down schools, you'll be talking about adding classrooms to schools, and bringing more people into them and adding teachers to them.

"Because if we don't do something and don't plan for rural Ireland, it will disappear off the map."