450. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide a copy of all school roll numbers from the introduction of such numbers; if she will include the name and position of the patron, the school address, the foundation date, the closure date, and the roll number of the school to which teachers and pupils moved at the closure of each school. [3464/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is not possible to provide the information sought by the Deputy in the manner requested because of the scale and detail of the information sought. The scale is evidenced by the fact that there were some 5,700 primary schools alone at the foundation of the State and today we have just over 3,000. It would be necessary to fully analyse all school openings, closures and amalgamations on a year-by year basis and identify school establishment dates, closure dates, patronage details and school address. Many of the records pre-date computerisation and are in the National Archives Office. My Department has never assembled information on where individual pupils transferred to when a school closed so this information is not available at all. In regard to teachers in schools that close due to amalgamation, if the teacher does not transfer to the amalgamated school, they may be redeployed. Redeployment details for a teacher are maintained on their personnel record and such records are not organised on the basis of school closures.
