Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Baineann mo cheist le Scoil Náisiúnta Bhríde i Leitir Calaidh i gCeantar na nOileán. Chualamar trí na meáin chumarsáide go raibh an scoil ag dúnadh. Tá cathaoirleach an bhoird agus bainistíocht na scoile ag cur in iúl go mbeidh an scoil ag dúnadh ag deireadh na scoilbhliana seo. Chuir sé iontas orainne go léir, go háirithe na tuismitheoirí agus muintir an cheantair. Tuigim go bhfuil an figiúr sa scoil íseal ó thaobh na ndaltaí de ach tá an chosúlacht ar an scéal gur tháinig an cinneadh aniar aduaidh ar na daoine sa cheantar agus, mar a dúirt mé, ar na tuismitheoirí. I dtús báire táim ag iarraidh aird na Roinne a tharraingt ar an bhfógra seo go bhfuil an scoil ag dúnadh. Chomh maith leis sin, ba mhaith liom soiléiriú an raibh an Roinn ar an eolas go raibh an scoil seo le dúnadh. An raibh teagmháil idir lucht bainistíochta na scoile agus an Roinn?

The Topical Issue I have raised is self-evident. There has been an announcement that Scoil Náisiúnta Bhríde, Leitir Calaidh, Ceantar na nOileán, is closing. The announcement was made by an email to the parents, and I heard it on the radio. It surprised all of us, not least the parents of the pupils in the school and the people in the area. The school has fought many battles and has managed to stay open. It is in the heart of the Gaeltacht. Already, two other schools have closed in the area. I have brought in the relevant policy, Polasaí don Oideachas Gaeltachta 2017–2022, which was launched with great fanfare in 2016. One of the best things to come out of any Government, as I said at the time, was the very positive policy whereby schools in the Gaeltacht could do everything in Irish and get special recognition for that. There was a process and steps, and there was to be extra help.

That policy was in recognition of the urgent need to have such a policy for the Gaeltacht areas. There is a school that is at the heart of the community, as the Minister of State knows well from his own work i gcroílár na Gaeltachta agus an phobail. Now there is an announcement that it is to close. Was the Department aware of this? Was it made aware of this? If so, when and how? What steps is the Government taking in relation to the matter? Has the Department been in touch with the school or the board of management? I understand the permission of the Department is necessary when a school is going to close, or certainly, there has to be some interaction between the school and the Department. I am seeking clarification on the matter.

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