A shortage of principal teachers is threatening primary school teaching, say Irish Primary Principal's Network (IPPN).
A nationwide survey of 245 teachers around the country, carried out by Mercator Marketing for the IPPN, says 67 per cent of teachers said they were unlikely to apply for a position as principal if it came up.
In response to a question as to whether teachers were more or less likely to apply for the position now than they were in the past, seven per cent said they were more likely as opposed to 46 per cent who said they were less likely.
The survey says the key factors in teachers' consideration in applying for principalship were primarily related to adequate support and professional development.
"The IPPN believes that the principal's role is pivotal to ensuring that we all have well-run schools." IPPN director Mr Sean Cottrell said.
"We will be seeking an urgent meeting with the Minister to see how we can jointly tackle this issue.
"The IPPN will be asking for the speedy implementation of all the recommendations in the report of the Department of Education and Science working group on the role of the primary principal to help solve this current crisis."