Serious health and safety risks in 40 primary schools, including vermin infestation, have been identified in a survey by the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO).
The union said the schools were a health, fire or safety hazard for their pupils and the Department of Education had failed to improve the conditions despite repeated requests.
The union said half the schools were infested by vermin, over three-quarters had inadequate toilet facilities and 45 per cent were without an adequate heating system.
"Some of these schools are vermin-infested, overcrowded and totally inadequate in terms of basic hygiene and hazardous from the point of view of health and safety," said the union, which represents 26,000 primary teachers.
It said it was publicly identifying the schools because it was the only way to get action from the Department. The survey was based on information from school principals and teachers working in the schools.
The survey found:
50 per cent of the schools had evidence of vermin (including rats and mice).
Over 75 per cent had inadequate toilets, with one-quarter only able to use outdoor facilities.
65 per cent had inadequate hand-washing or drying facilities.
45 per cent did not have adequate heating.
50 per cent had either no drinking water or the water was unfit to drink.
45 per cent had rotting windows or doors.
A Department of Education spokeswoman said it was preparing to correct the faults in 31 of the schools and, on the basis of the survey, it would be contacting the other nine.
She said schools which had problems such as vermin were given funds to deal with them. The Government had set aside £93 million this year for capital work on primary schools and many of the 40 would benefit from this.
However, an INTO spokeswoman said the procedures for getting work done on schools was too cumbersome and time-consuming. "Many of these schools have been on the list for work for years, and still nothing has been done," she said.
