asked the Minister for Education if he will make a statement on the future plans for Clootagh national school, Killashee, County Longford, which is completely modernised, has 40 pupils at present and for which up to 30 pupils are expected in the next three years.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Longford School.
20.
My Department have recently been in correspondence with the board of management of Cloontagh national school to ascertain the views of the board on a possible amalgamation of Cloontagh national school, which is a two-teacher school with Killashee national school in the same parish, also a two-teacher school. No final decision will be taken in this matter without full consultation with the local parties concerned.
The Minister says he is consulting about this matter. May I take it there is a possibility that the Department will sanction the keeping open of this school seeing that a certain amount of money has been spent on it to bring it up to modern standards?
No decision has been taken yet. The value of consulting is to find out what possibilities exist. I would not put it any stronger than that.
Which of the two schools will be kept open?
I did not say any school will be kept open and I did not say any school will be closed. I could not possibly answer that question at the moment. The Deputy will appreciate I must consult with everybody and giving an indication as to what will happen at this stage would make consultation pointless.
Has there been any change of policy with regard to that type of school?
No.
The remaining question will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.