Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)

Will the Minister be honest with the people and tell them that he wishes, by stealth, to close down the majority of small schools in Ireland through changing the criteria of 12 pupils required to 14 in September 2012, to 17 in 2013 and to 20 in 2014? This measure will close a significant number of small schools throughout the length and breadth of the country. These schools provide an invaluable high level of education locally to young children. Centralising these young children would remove them from their local communities where they have built up a great relationship with their teachers and remove them from a situation where the parents know they are safe and in a happy environment close to their homes. This way of life will be torn apart by these proposals.

I thank the Minister sincerely for being here this evening. I am well aware that he has said, and I have it in writing from him, that it is important to emphasise that no small schools will be closed due to the changes that have been announced. That cannot be the situation. He knows-----

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