Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if, he expects to be in a position to maintain the network of smaller and rural schools throughout the country with particular reference to the need to address issues of the standard and quality of education available to rural communities and access thereto; if he is satisfied that his Department's requirements will be met in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42998/12]

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when he will publish the value for money review of small schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43078/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 92 and 107 together.

Educational quality for pupils must be one of the main criteria in any consideration of primary school size and organisation. Ireland has a high proportion of primary schools relative to its population and a high proportion of these are small schools. A Value for Money review of small primary schools is at an advanced stage of finalisation and my Department expects to be in a position to publish the report in the near future. I hope that this report will inform a constructive engagement among all interested parties in considering the challenges ahead and how best to make provision for primary education in rural and dispersed communities.