The number of teaching nuns in primary schools in the State has more than halved in the past two decades, according to new figures.
The most recent survey indicates that there are just over 500 teaching sisters in the primary sector, compared to over 1,600 in 1980.
The age of those in primary education offers little prospect that the trend can be reversed - about 70 per cent are over 50. One in five is aged 60 or over and only one sister is under 35 years.
Despite the fall-off in numbers, those who remain continue to occupy a pivotal role. A total of 175 are school principals and 18 are deputy principals.
It is expected, however, that this role will decline as religious orders hand over to lay principals. The Sisters of Mercy have already signalled their intention to do this; many other religious orders are preparing to follow. The figures were released at the annual conference of the Association of Primary Teaching Sisters (APTS) at the weekend, where the Minister for Education, Dr Woods, paid tribute to the dedicated work of teaching nuns.
"As the sisters and other religious orders scale down their involvement in education it is fitting that we pay tribute to the wonderful work that they have done in Irish education. At times when the State was unable to fulfil the needs in education religious orders served the people of Ireland with generosity and dedication," he said.
Dr Woods unveiled a £9 million grants package for additional caretaking and secretarial facilities in primary schools at the conference. This will bring the grant for schools with 100 pupils and more up to £40 per pupil with immediate effect. This means that a school with 400 pupils will receive an additional £4,000 in funding.
In her address to the conference, Sister Mary Collins, president of the APTS, said the shortage of primary teachers had reached crisis point. There had, she said, been a significant mismatch between the numbers retiring and the number of qualified graduates coming on stream.
Sister Collins expressed concern over the non-availability of a regular psychological service to schools. "The current provision, though augmented in recent times, is totally inadequate," she said. Teachers were working diligently to deal with cases but in many instances professional psychological assistance was a must, she said.