Some of the country's most severely disadvantaged primary schools have lost special needs teachers and resource hours due to the introduction of a new "weighted system" of allocation, a survey of school principals in Dublin's inner city has indicated.
In one case the introduction of the system in September led to a net loss of eight teachers - or their equivalent in teaching hours - in 18 schools in Dublin's north inner city.
All of the schools surveyed are designated as disadvantaged.
The survey has prompted the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) to call for a "freeze" on job losses in disadvantaged schools pending the implementation of a new plan to tackle educational disadvantage.
The telephone survey of primary school principals in 30 inner-city schools by the Dublin Inner City Partnership was conducted in September.
It found that 12 schools in the south inner city recorded a small net gain of approximately one teacher or the equivalent in resource hours as a result of the new "weighted" system.
Under this system schools are allocated resource teaching hours based on their enrolment figures.
This compares with a net loss of approximately eight teachers or their equivalent in 18 schools located in the north inner city.
It gives a total net loss of seven teachers or their equivalent in the 30 inner-city schools.
When broken down by gender the survey also indicates that boys' and mixed schools in the inner city fare worse than girls' schools under the new system, according to the partnership.
Whereas nine girls' schools made a marginal net gain of 1¾ teachers or their equivalent in resource hours, boys' schools suffered a net loss of some 7½ teachers or their equivalent over 10 schools.
Eleven mixed schools suffered a net loss of approximately one teacher or the equivalent in resource hours.