Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Fleming for that. Clearly, school-going populations have dropped in quite a number of areas, particularly on the west coast. I know of one location where nine schools have closed over the past 30 years because of depopulation. I have spoken to the Minister for Education and Skills about this important issue. Clearly, there is an issue here in respect of teachers themselves and the peer support they have. In addition, communities need to look at the future of the educational facilities in their areas. I think people are beginning to focus more than they did in the past on the futures of their local schools. How can the local school be maintained if the population is dropping and there are just seven, ten or 15 pupils in the school?

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