Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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54. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the value for money report on small schools will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29686/14]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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My question concerns when the value for money review of small primary schools which has been with the Minister for Education and Skills for almost a year and a half will be published.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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The report on the value for money review of small primary schools will be published as soon as my Government colleagues and I have finalised our consideration of it and its recommendations. I am not at this time in a position to give a precise publication date. The report contains much detailed technical data concerning small schools in the primary sector and also a suite of recommendations and options. The Government needs time to properly consider the report and its recommendations.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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I take the opportunity to wish the outgoing Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, the very best. He is a man who has made an immense political contribution in what has been a long and distinguished career. Looking back over the past 30 or 40 years, he is one of the figures in Irish politics who have stood out. I know that he has some time left in this Parliament and have no doubt that once he retires at the end of this Dáil, he will continue to contribute to public life. On my own behalf and that of my party, I send him good wishes.

I do not believe the response given by the Minister of State is acceptable in any way. We have been listening to this for over a year and a half. Perhaps the Minister of State might tell me whether he believes it is acceptable that it should take this long to consider a report. While the Minister, his Department and the Government have been sitting on the report, small schools across the country have been subject to significant cuts in teacher numbers and the funding they receive. It is unacceptable that we continue to see this approach and such measures taken that many believe are contained in the value for money review without the Government being up-front and honest and publishing the report in order that we can have a proper debate on it and ensure assurances can be given to schools on what the future holds.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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It is important in giving effect to proper public policy and proper educational policy that due consideration and time is given to all the inputs involved in the making of such a report. One must examine issues such as the diversity of provision in an area, the ethos of schools, parental choice, the language of instruction, distances pupils must travel and the provision and costs of school transport, the locations of small schools relative to each other and to other schools of a similar type and the costs of running small primary schools. It is not something one would rush into given the important nature of educational provision. The Government seeks to ensure proper and due diligence is done on public policy and educational policy.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister of State's response does not add up or make sense. The Minister is sitting on a report commissioned to assess how small schools are working and what future policy should be in this area but he will not publish it in order that there can be a full debate. Instead, the Minister of State said the Minister is continuing to consider issues relating to the report long after it was put together and these considerations were made. This is unacceptable. This is happening at the same time as measures are being taken to put the same schools under massive pressure. The Minister is moving on and will be replaced but the report has still not been published.

Representatives of the Dublin archdiocese appeared before the Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection last week and they indicated that 10% of their schools are unsure whether they will continue to operate over the next two to three years. That is the scenario facing them. It is not acceptable that the Minister of State should dillydally around considering reports while that scenario pertains in our primary schools.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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It is the Government's intention to publish the report and due consideration is being given to its contents.