Up to 4,000 lecturers at the country's Institutes of Technology will go on strike today in a row over cutbacks and staff levels.

Protesters say since 2008 the number of students has increased by nearly 22,000, while the number of lecturing positions has decreased by 550.

They also claim they are struggling to cope with cuts which have stripped €190m in funding from the system.

The lecturers are being represented by teachers' union the TUI, President Gerry Quinn, says students fully support the strike: