Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 243: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 531 of 2 March 2010 regarding the amalgamation of two schools (details supplied) in County Kilkenny and her Department's letter to one of the schools in July 2007, the progress that has been made since. [13483/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Due to industrial action on the part of some staff in the Department of Education and Science, I am not in a position to give the full details sought by the Deputy.

However, I can clarify that there is a standard procedure in relation to applications for the amalgamation of schools. To comply with this procedure, an application to amalgamate schools must be made by the Patron/s or Trustees of the schools concerned. It is necessary for this application to confirm that a consultation process has been carried out by the Patron/s or Trustees among the Boards of Management, parents and teachers. It must also indicate that these parties are in agreement to the amalgamation and that the Patron/s or Trustees consent to it. Correspondence from an individual school would not comply with this procedure and would not, therefore, be considered to be an application.