Vol. 460 No. 7
84 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Education if he will ensure that the wishes of the principal, parents and staff of a primary school (details supplied) in Dublin 13 are given paramount consideration in any future decision on the amalgamation of this school with other local schools. [2160/96]
Before any proposal to amalgamate two or more primary schools in a given area can be confirmed, there must be agreement between the boards of management, teachers and parents of the schools concerned and my Department.
The school referred to by the Deputy is one of four schools in the parish. Efforts in recent years to amalgamate these schools have been unsuccessful, due mainly to local opposition. Revised proposals to amalgamate the schools into two new schools from next September, were recently submitted to my Department by the parish priest. The correspondence indicated that consultations with all local interested parties would be arranged.
My Department is at present examining these proposals to establish whether they provide a basis for agreed rationalisation in the area.
