Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I join colleagues in welcoming yesterday's positive announcement by the Minister, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, on assisting smaller primary schools throughout the country. It means a great deal to the parents and students of those schools, which saw themselves as being under threat in recent times. In my area, St. Teresa's primary school in Killure near Ballinasloe will remain a two-teacher school for the 2015-16 school year. The school at Laurencetown, Ballinasloe, will remain a three-teacher school. I also welcome the decision to change the threshold to 15 pupils for schools that are more than 5 km from a school of similar patronage. This will help the Church of Ireland school at Aughrim, Ballinasloe, and is good news for everyone involved.

This proves that the Government is listening to Oireachtas Members who have referred to the need to ensure that the fabric of life in rural Ireland is maintained. The recent appointment of a Minister of State with responsibility for rejuvenating rural development is to be welcomed. I join Senator Bradford in calling for a full and frank debate on how to ensure that the quality of life in rural Ireland is enhanced in the years ahead.