Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 212: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the names of the schools he intends to close in County Meath; the dates on which he intends to close them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5016/12]

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 213: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the future of a school (details supplied) in County Meath; if he will ensure that the school remains open and continues to serve the local area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5017/12]

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 214: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the future of a school (details supplied) in County Meath; if he will ensure that the school remains open and continues to serve the local area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5018/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 212 to 214, inclusive, together.

I want to clarify for the Deputy that I have no intention to forcibly close any schools, in County Meath or elsewhere in Ireland, arising from the announcement I made on 5th December 2011. I would advise the Deputy to read the detail of that announcement, available on www.education.ie, so he can familiarise himself with what I actually announced in the Budget. The criteria under which National Schools are recognised by the Department are outlined in the Education Act 1998 and the Rules for National Schools. Under the criteria, recognition can be withdrawn where a school's pupil enrolment returns to the Department, at 30th September, fall below eight pupils and remain at this level for at least two consecutive years and where the Patron is satisfied that there is little prospect of a reversal in the school's pupil enrolment trend. The schools referred to by the Deputy currently meet the recognition criteria concerned.