I understand the need for one teacher schools on islands and in remote parts of the country. However, where there is a cluster of one teacher schools, the Department should consider amalgamating them. Children miss out as well from a social point of view. If a pupil is on his or her own in class for eight years of primary school, what social skills will they develop? They miss out on basic things such as being in a school band, being involved in a football or hurling team and so on which, even leaving education aside, is important. In addition, a pupil could have a bad teacher and be stuck with them for the first eight years of their educational life. That could have a dramatic effect on them. They might even end up as a Senator – who knows?