Vol. 571 No. 1
627 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Science the notices which were given to a school (details supplied) in County Donegal in relation to its possible closure; the efforts which were made to forewarn parents and staff of the serious nature of falling numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20782/03]
The decision to withdraw grants from the school referred to by the Deputy with effect from the end of the school year 2002-03 was taken by my Department because of the decline in enrolments and the fact that there was no prospect of a reversal in the downward trend.
Rule 36 of the rules for national schools states, "Aid is not continued to a school at which the average daily enrolment falls below eight units for two consecutive years". The decision to close the school under the terms of rule 36 was taken after consultation with the patron, and the school's inspector. The letter formally notifying the board of management that grants would be withdrawn at the end of the 2002-03 school year was issued to the chairperson, patron and principal on 20 March 2003. The chairperson was advised in that letter to inform the school community of this decision as soon as possible in order that parents could make alternative arrangements for the primary education of their children.
