Vol. 491 No. 6
291 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, under consideration in his Department in relation to the future of a secondary school (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12769/98]
The possible closure of this school came to the notice of my Department recently when the school management sought a meeting to discuss its future. This meeting was held on 19 May. Two local meetings were held on 21 and 26 May and my Department was informed on 27 May that a firm decision had been taken to close the school. The decision was taken in the light of declining enrolments. The school has a total of 127 pupils in the current school year with only 17 new first year pupils due to start next September. The school is to be phased out over a two year period with final closure at the end of the 1999-2000 school year. There will not be an intake of first year pupils next September.
The Deputy will appreciate that a secondary school is a privately owned and managed institution and a decision to close such a school is a matter for the trustees. My main concern in a school closure is to ensure that the best interests of the pupils are looked after in the period up to closure and that there will be sufficient pupil places in existing schools in the general area for pupils who would have normally enrolled in the closing school. My Department will continue to liaise with the school authorities to ensure that as little disruption as possible is caused to all concerned by the closure of the school.
