Primary school principals say they are facing a funding crisis after one school was forced to borrow 20,000 euro from the local parish.
The National Principals' Forum says over 70 per cent of primary school principals surveyed said they don't expect to have enough funds for essential school operations.
Sessiaghoneill National School in Ballybofey in Co Donegal asked the Department of Education to top up it’s grant after 51 new students staying at the local Direct Provision centre enrolled in the school at the start of November last year.
Principal Anne Marie Griffin says she made several attempts to get more funding:
"We were refused each time. Nothing ever came of that.
"We didn't receive the Book Rental Grant for the 51 students either. Since then, the Government has got in touch with us to say they will top up that grant."
Carlow primary school teacher Simon Lewis says some schools are really struggling to pay their bills and is calling on the government to increase funding to help schools to survive during the cost of living crisis:
"We are here to help children learn. The least you'd expect them to have is a comfortable classroom where they are not shivering.
"It's just very bizarre stuff, you would think that like any other public service, these are the kind of things you wouldn't be worrying about.
"You'd just expect them to be paid, but they are not."
