Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On Deputy Paul Connaughton's final point which he made very well, perhaps the changes made in budget 2012 might have merit if urban schools were deriving significant benefits from them. That is not the case, however. In 2012-13 the Department saved €2.6 million before tax from the new measures related to smaller schools. The figure will decline to €2.2 million in 2014-15. At best, the measures saved €1.5 million after tax, which is a pittance in the context of the departmental budget. They are, however, having a profound impact on small, rural communities and not benefiting larger schools. This issue needs to be cleared up immediately.

I have been hearing about the value for money report on small schools for the past three years. One of the first questions I tabled on my election to the Dáil was to ask when the report would be published. Rural communities must be given an opportunity to scrutinise and dissect the report and contest its findings. The Department is hiding behind it and taking what could almost be described as a threatening approach to those who raise issues about small schools by stating it will publish the report. Given that the report will probably be leaked a few weeks before the election, it would be better to publish it now and have an honest debate on it. It is unacceptable that it has been held back for the past three years, during which communities with small schools have suffered. In one school in south County Kerry only one teacher is available for 17 children across eight streams. Amalgamation is not an option for that school and a handful of other geographically isolated schools. With political will, this matter could be addressed overnight. I ask the Minister again to do so.

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