Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

It is not right for Deputies to up the rhetoric on this issue when a final decision has not yet been made. In the case of rural schools with only a small number of pupils, it is eminently reasonable and sensible to proceed with amalgamations when they can be achieved through a process of consensus. The annual savings to be achieved are available for everyone to see. The budget measures set out a target of saving 250 posts over a three year period. Deputy McConalogue is a member of the party which instigated the review in question. Let us be honest about how we approach this issue. It is appropriate to have a value for money report on small schools. It is not proposed to compromise the ethos that exists in rural communities. I do not propose to mouth platitudes about representing either a rural or urban community because most Deputies are familiar with the importance of rural schools and their positive impact on local communities. From a policy point of view, the decision must have regard to this fact.

See this speech in context