Vol. 458 No. 3
77 Kathleen Lynch asked the Minister for Education the proposals, if any, she has to meet the schooling needs of island children in relation to amalgamation proposals in view of the conflicting reports on the decision of parents and the board of management of Aphort and Leabgarrow national schools, Aranmore Island, County Donegal. [16958/95]
A local meeting of the parents, teachers and boards of managements of the two schools was held on the island on 22 October last to progress the question of amalgamation. In a secret ballot, the parents voted clearly in favour of an amalgamation of the schools into the Leabgarrow building, which would be refurbished by my Department. This is also my Department's preferred option. The alternatives considered at the meeting, either to retain the status quo or to provide a new building at a central location, received little support.
A letter, signed by four members of the Aphort school board, was subsequently received in my Department objecting to an amalgamation of the school into Leabgarrow. In these circumstances, it was decided to defer the proposed amalgamation for the present. The matter will be given further consideration at a later stage in the current school year.
