Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

I do not know the answer to that question. The decision to initiate the process was made in October of last year. The deadline for submissions was in February. I do not know what was the form of communication. I presume it was the website, but I will find out for the Deputy.

I have no preconceived ideas about rural schools. We want to see what the value for money is. In other parts of the country, specifically in parts of County Cork, there is clustering of schools where all the school buildings are used for educational purposes but they, perhaps, share a secretary, have a single board of management or combine existing resources to maximise educational outcomes. Some of these school buildings originated in 1910 or 1920, when rural Ireland was a different place from what it is now.

I have no bias against rural schools whatsoever. We have a growing population. However, I cannot give Deputy McConalogue a commitment that there will be no such decision until we see the outcome of the value for money review. Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.

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