Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Finian McGrath would not understand the situation in rural communities and the effect the closure of a small school can have on its community. Not only have rural communities been devastated by recent storms, but they have been hit by unemployment and other problems.

The value for money report into small schools needs to be published as soon as possible, as it will be critical for small schools continuing. They have an important role to play. Once a small school goes from a rural village, the village dies. Will the Minister give due consideration to having an exception for these types of schools in communities where the population has temporarily decreased but there is evidence that enrolments will increase in the next four to five years? As I said earlier, keeping such schools open would be only for 12 months until enrolments pick up. It would not cost the Department too much to keep an extra teacher on even as an assistant for health and safety reasons.

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