Skip to main content
Normal View

Value for Money Reviews

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 March 2015

Tuesday, 3 March 2015

Questions (116)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

116. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the value-for-money report and policy review of small schools, recently published by her Department; her further views on the report’s recommendations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8834/15]

View answer

Oral answers (6 contributions)

My question is to ask the Minister her views on the value-for-money report and policy review of small schools recently published by her Department, her intentions as a result of the publication of that report and mindful of the cuts which this Government has already implemented in small schools over the past four years.

I consider that the report of the value-for-money review of small primary schools provides a solid research basis for future discussions regarding small schools. It outlines the number, type and location of small schools and this information is very useful in considering any reorganisation proposals . In many parts of our country, small schools play a central part in local communities, particularly in the case of remote and isolated communities. I do not agree with the report's recommendations because they do not have sufficient regard to the question of a school's role in community sustainability. Indeed, to aid the sustainability of local communities, I recently announced improvements to the staffing schedule for some small schools as well as a voluntary amalgamation protocol for one-teacher schools with reducing enrolments. My approach is to work collaboratively with any local community that wishes to reorganise provision to achieve greater sustainability. Educational quality for pupils must be the central criterion in any proposal.

The Minister is indicating that she does not agree with many of the proposals in the value-for-money report. However, the actions of her Government over the past four years would indicate a very different view. Over that time there have been systematic cuts to the pupil-teacher thresholds in small schools. One half of the number of small schools have fewer than five teachers. I refer to the very small rowing back on retention numbers which was announced recently. This is a rowing back on a very small proportion of those cuts. Does the Minister acknowledge that those cuts have had a real impact and that they will threaten the future of many schools? Will she go the whole way - as recommended by my party in our pre-budget submission - to ensure that those cuts are reversed?

I refer to the Minister's proposals on voluntary amalgamation of schools. It would seem this Government is attempting to starve schools of funding while saying to them that if they amalgamate the funding will not be a problem. The Minister is trying to starve them into submission and forcing them to amalgamate. This is in line with her policy on small schools thus far. I ask her to comment on the underlying Government policy in this regard.

There is a difference between isolated small schools and small schools in general. This is the reason we have made a particular provision for small schools that are more than 8 km from another school. I note the importance of this provision for the communities in question.

With regard to other small schools, the approach taken in the report is dictatorial, with a requirement that they amalgamate and do other things. I am approaching the matter in a different way, the objective being to have an agreed protocol worked out between the INTO, the management bodies and the Department. It is about having a mechanism by which schools can come together where they consider, because of the size of a school and so on, that doing so would be better for their communities and offer a better service for children. The aim is to have a facility whereby local communities can begin considering, when pupil numbers fall below 25, what their options are and what is best for them. That is a better approach than forcing certain actions on communities.

The reality is that the Government is seeking the closure and amalgamation of many small schools. That is what the Department's policy has been designed to achieve. The Minister may talk about a voluntary protocol, but the protocol the Government has followed has involved cuts to pupil-teacher thresholds such that half of primary schools which have four or fewer teachers have seen posts lost and there has been no reinstatement of these posts where student numbers have increased. Alongside this, we have seen a failure to pay essential grants to these schools, grants which are even more important for smaller schools than for larger ones. That is what the Government has delivered.

The Minister talks about a conversation, communication and agreeing voluntary protocols. At the same time, however, she is saying that if the decision is made to close and amalgamate, funding will not be a problem. That is the first time any of these schools has heard this from the Minister or her predecessor. Only if they decide to close or amalgamate will funding not be a problem. In the meantime, it will be a big problem and they will be starved of resources and teachers. That is the reality. The Minister claims she is not implementing the recommendations made in the review, but, in fact, her intention is to do just as it recommends, namely, deliver the closure and amalgamation of small schools. We need a reversal of the approach which has been the hallmark of the Government in education for the past four years.

The first point to make is that we will not force any small school to close. Second, one of the reasons for the cutbacks across all Departments in recent years was the damage caused by the Deputy's party to the economy before we took office. All Departments had to cut expenditure and my Department was no exception. We have since restored some of the grants to which the Deputy referred. The minor works grant, for example, which gives a set amount to all schools, plus some more depending on the number of students, has been restored to schools, as have several other funding streams.

With regard to funding for amalgamations, if there are specific aspects whereby amalgamation requires extra funding, whether it be where there are two principals or any of the number of issues that can arise when two schools come together, it is perfectly feasible that the Department would assist in that regard.

Top
Share