Some 200 extra teaching posts at primary level are to be allocated to disadvantaged areas following negotiations under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness. The primary teachers' union, the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO), has got agreement from the Government for the posts under the review mechanism set up under the PPF.
The general secretary of the INTO, Senator Joe O'Toole, said: "This represents another important step in the right direction in tackling the problem of educational disadvantage."
The union also got agreement from the Government for fewer classroom hours for teaching principals.
It says the principals have such a heavy workload it is important for them to get "release days" from class.
The number of release days has been doubled under the INTO agreement with the Department of Education.
The number of days set aside for administrative work will be doubled to 12, 16 and 20 depending on the size of the school.
"This represents a very significant improvement in the working conditions of teaching principals and is a major breakthrough for the INTO and also proves that the PPF can deliver," said Mr O'Toole.
"Only 18 months ago we were engaged in industrial action in order to move the Government in this matter.
"The impossible demands on the teaching principal, who in the course of the day has to deal with disciplinary, curricular, administrative, management and a myriad of other issues, while also having a class full of pupils full-time, are well documented." The INTO has long argued that even in large schools principals have to teach during the week when they should be doing administrative tasks.