Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In my rough estimation, it costs up to approximately €20 million per day to run our primary schools across the country. There have been seven referendums or elections since the last general election, with one polling day on a Saturday. At least half the primary schools, in my rough assessment, were closed across the country for use as polling stations. That would mean at least €70 million or €80 million would be the cost of lost school days but the Department has no interest in assessing it. From an educational perspective, there is no reason to close schools as there is viable alternative accommodation in every county. The Minister is ignoring this question from an educational perspective, which is unacceptable.

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