Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Reports suggest that 600 rural national schools are under threat as numbers drop below 50 students. If a large number of these school close, it will be to the detriment of rural Ireland. Something must be done and the Minister and the Department must understand that when it is suggested that a two-teacher school needs 19 pupils, different factors need to be assessed.

About the only thing I agree with the Taoiseach on is that things will turn around in rural Ireland. We hope they will but if the schools are closed it will not help. I know of families that have come back to the area. One family has brought five children to the local school. That is a big difference. It should ensure the school will stay open for a lot longer than was thought. There must be 19 pupils for a two-teacher school. The Minister of State should look at what will happen going forward. Is there a possibility that more children could come back and we will have more in the next couple of years? The Minister of State should take into account that when this small school is shut, the town school will need extensions built on. There will be no bother then getting more teachers and it will cost a lot of money. That also has to be taken into account. There are longer distances for the children to go to the central school. Many families are down to one car now and will not get school transport. The commitment given to students of schools that closed down before, that they would be taken to a central school, has been reneged on.

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