Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 February 2010
220 Deputy Brian O’Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will give an assurance that a school (details supplied) in County Waterford is not in danger of being closed down due to the lack of numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8328/10]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Special Group on Public Services and Expenditure was established to examine current expenditure programmes in each Government Department and to make recommendations to Government for ensuring a return to sustainable public finances. I can confirm that there are no plans to undertake an immediate large-scale programme of small school closures at this time. The exception to this is small schools where the question of closure would arise in the normal course under the current sustainability limits. These will continue to be dealt with in the same way and such schools may be closed if the numbers reduce over time to an unsustainable level. However, I am of the view that my Department will have to examine the implementation of more strict guidelines in relation to the number of pupils required for both the commencement and the sustainability of schools.
It is within this context that my Department will be examining discreet groups or clusters of small schools and perhaps some individual small schools to see how we might achieve more value for money and a more efficient use of the resources that are currently allocated to these schools. However, in considering any policy changes relating to small schools, my Department is conscious that there is a wider dimension in addition to the cost of maintaining small schools to be considered. Among the issues that will need to be taken into account are the impact of school closures on dispersed rural communities, parental choice, the availability of diversity of school provision and the additional cost of school transport. All Patron bodies and the Education Partners will be consulted as part of any initiative undertaken by my Department in the future.
