John Perry
Question:476 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Education and Science if he can defer the decision to close Riverstown No. 2 national school in view of the projected numbers by September 2002. [13920/01]
Written Answers - School Closures.
In March 2001, following an assessment by my Department of enrolment trends at Riverstown No. 2 national school, the board of management of the school was informed of the decision to withdraw grant aid with effect from the end of the current school year. The basis for the decision was that, for the current and previous school year, enrolment had reached only five and six pupils, respectively. In that regard, the rules for national schools provide that grant aid is not continued to a school at which the enrolment falls below eight pupils for two consecutive school years.
However, in the light of a recent appeal by the board of management, including new information on housing developments and potential enrolments at the school, my Department has agreed to review the decision to withdraw grant aid from the end of the current school year. A decision will be notified to the board as soon as possible.