asked the Minister for Education the number of rural national schools to be affected in Sligo-Leitrim by the new proposals mentioned by him regarding closure and transfer.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Closing of Sligo-Leitrim Schools.
68.
My policy is to endeavour, wherever feasible, to replace one and two-teacher schools by larger schools.
There are 121 one-teacher and two-teacher schools in County Sligo. There are 114 one-teacher and two-teacher schools in County Leitrim.
At present investigations are being made in relation to approximately 45 such schools in County Leitrim and approximately 26 such schools in County Sligo. It is not possible for me to say at present what the results of these investigations will be.
May we rest assured in the meantime that this general survey on the broad question will not be used as an alibi for failure to replace schools in urgent need of replacement?
I think I have already assured the Deputy that this is so and in fact I have also told him I am quite convinced that as a result of this survey many school children will be housed in good conditions in schools much quicker than they would be if we did not do what we are doing now.
I am interested in the first half of the Minister's reply.