I thank the Senator for raising the matter, as it affords me the opportunity to outline to the Seanad the current position regarding the value for money review of small primary schools, which is part of the normal review processes undertaken by all Departments on an annual basis on selected areas of expenditure and which is being conducted in line with the standard procedures for such reviews. These procedures require that the views of stakeholders be obtained. The interest groups contacted included the school patron bodies, management bodies, teacher unions, national parents' council, Irish language groups and other groups who operate in the area of social inclusion. A public consultation process was also put in place.
The review will attempt to explore the general policy options for the reorganisation of small schools, including the sharing of resources and clustering arrangements towards small schools.
It is important to clarify that this study is part of an overall requirement across all Departments to have a rolling programme of such studies.
As the Senator will be aware, this review was initiated last October by the previous Fianna Fáil-Green Party Government and is not driven by any ideology. The study is simply about ascertaining the facts to inform future policy. It does not mean that any policy decision has been taken at this point or that any particular outcome is sought. Given that the Government has recently announced a comprehensive review of expenditure, all Government expenditure and programmes will come under similar scrutiny.
The terms of reference acknowledge the important role primary schools play in their local communities. In considering any policy change on small schools, I am conscious that there is a wider dimension to be considered in addition to the cost of maintaining small schools. The review will examine the location of small schools relative to each other and to other schools of a similar type. It will also examine the costs of running small schools and the educational outcomes associated with small schools.
Educational quality for the students must be one of the main criteria in any consideration of primary school size. We must also consider the needs of local communities and wider social and cultural factors. The review is expected to be completed by the end of the year and a report should be available to me then at which stage I will consider the outcomes and proposals of the review.
Notwithstanding the statements and comments I made previously and the fact that I represent an urban constituency, I am very well aware that on a separate study, which evaluated the educational outcomes between large schools and small schools in the primary sector, the educational outcomes were effectively the same. There was little or no difference that would warrant any kind of response. Without prejudice to whatever decision is finally made, rather than have Marlborough Street sending down a directive to local communities in which the schools are located, whatever the conclusions of the study and the implications they suggest, my instinct is to invite communities such as that represented by Senator Ó Clochartaigh and to outline the position to them and ask how they wish to respond and what they think is the best way to proceed. Together, we must ensure we do not throw out the good with the costly.