The Irish National Teachers Organisation has accused the Government of trying to "cut flesh from a skeleton" by slashing spending on primary schools in the recent budget.

The union is one of a number of groups involved in primary education that held a press conference in Dublin today to highlight their concerns about the cuts.

They want the Minister for Education to reverse the cuts and enter into a dialogue with all the education partners about alternative areas where savings can be made.

INTO president Declan Kelleher told reporters this morning that several studies had already found that Ireland's primary sector was severely under-funded.

He said the planned cutbacks were an unwarranted attempt to "cut flesh from a skeleton".

The Government is set to face fresh criticism over the matter throughout this week when the Dail debates a motion calling for the reversal of cutbacks throughout the education sector.

A major march is being planned for Dublin city centre tomorrow to highlight public opposition to the cuts.