Up to 30 of the country's most disadvantaged schools are to lose librarian services that were granted in an attempt to boost literacy levels.
Tánaiste and Minister for Education Mary Coughlan has confirmed that the contracts of many of the librarians working on the scheme will not be renewed over the summer.
€9m has been invested to open the libraries.
It comes as the third level sector has been warned that more cuts are on the way.
The Higher Education Authority has written to the country's universities telling them to brace themselves for further cuts.
Commenting on this the Minister for Education said the Government was going to have to continue to make difficult decisions.
