Thousands of school children walked out of classrooms this afternoon in protest at a lack of Government funding for school buildings and facilities.
Around pupils from up to 700 primary schools took part in the demonstration, which was was planned by parents' and teachers' organisation Tuismitheoirí agus Teagascóirí le Chéile (TLC) to protest at what it described as the deplorable condition of many school buildings and overcrowded classes.
Pupils and their teachers left classes and held "nature walks" to demonstrate.
Fine Gael education spokeswoman Ms Olwyn Enright said sheer frustration at the state of school buildings prompted the action.
"Children cannot be expected to remain in such sub-standard accommodation and neither can teachers be expected to work in these facilities day in and day out," she said. "The Minister must take action immediately".
Ms Enright said there was a great waste in the building of schools, with work reaching various stages of architectural planning and then stopping.
She estimated 40,000 people were taking part in the protest. Yesterday, pupils in Dublin took their books into the playgrounds as part of a campaign by Labour to highlight the issue.
Pupils went to a "hedge school" in Merrion Square where Labour's education spokesperson, Ms Jan O'Sullivan, said the anger and frustration among teachers and pupils was unprecedented.