The Irish National Teachers' Organisation has expressed concern at the continuing decline of the primary school population on Achill Island, which has nearly halved in 14 years.
In 1983 there were 730 pupils enrolled in Achill's 10 national schools, but the figure now stands at 406 - a drop of 44 per cent. Enrolment numbers have declined by 48 - 11 per cent - since the last survey in 1995.
Mr Pat Conway, secretary of the Achill branch of the INTO, said the decline had serious implications for the primary school structure on the island.