Hundreds of primary schools face new difficulties in paying for basic utilities such as heating and lighting, after a fresh cut in school maintenance supports.

The cut in capitation support is designed to offset a Government u-turn on funding for disadvantaged schools.

In an embarrassing climbdown, Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn has agreed to retain 235 posts under the DEIS programme- these posts were due to be abolished in cuts announced in the budget but will now be retained.

However, to pay for the retained positions, capitation grants to schools will be cut by 3.5 per cent – instead of the 2 per cent cut announced in the budget .

Principals claim this new cut will see many schools unable to pay for basic utilities such as heating and lighting.