Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for the clarity of his response. I note that the Department has no record of a formal request to approve the closure of the school. That begs the question of whether an informal request was made. What contact was there between the Department and the school? Do I take it at face value that there was absolutely no contact in relation to a request to approve the closure of the school, and that permission must be granted by the Department, even though the Department is not running the school?

The Minister of State confirmed that the Department received an inquiry from the school authority regarding the process for school amalgamations. When was that inquiry received? The fact that this school is in the process of getting recognition within the policy, which is excellent, is most important. I also stress the importance of the school to the area, which I will not repeat in my limited time.

I must comment on the strangeness of the fact that an announcement was made on the airwaves and we became aware of the issue that way. Subsequently, there was a public meeting because of the sense of outrage in the community that the school was being closed in this manner. Yet, the Department was unaware of it, obviously through no fault of its own. The Minister of State mentioned official contact and inquiries. When was the Department put on notice that this school intended to make an announcement that it was closing? If the Department was not aware of it and permission has to be granted, what is the Department's view of a school board of management behaving in such a manner and making an announcement about an all-Irish school that is in the process of seeking recognition and is so vital to the community?

The Minister of State has started off well. I acknowledge that he has given me a clear answer. Sometimes we do not get clear answers. I ask him to go into the finer details. What is the Department's next step in relation to this school, given the importance of it to the area?

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