Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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284. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a meeting took place in 2012 or 2013 regarding the proposed amalgamation of schools (details supplied) in County Galway, if he will outline the persons present at the meeting and the persons they were representing; if there were representatives of his Department at the meeting; if there were representatives of the board of management of each school at the meeting; the names of the persons representing each school and their positions therein; if there were representatives of any other organisation at the meeting; the outcome of the meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4043/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department did not attend a meeting in respect of the proposed amalgamation of the two schools, in question, in 2013. My Department did however meet with the school authorities, at their request, in July 2012. At this meeting, the school authorities gave details of their proposed future plans for the schools in question including the option of amalgamation. The school authorities were advised that any proposal to amalgamate schools must involve consultation with all of the relevant stakeholders and follow decisions taken at local level. In that regard, it was noted that whilst the decision making authority for any amalgamation belongs to the Patron of a school, this decision is subject to the approval of the Minister. The school authorities were also advised that any such request would need to clarify the implications of the amalgamation proposal, including any requests for capital funding.

In view of the requirement to confirm the names of the persons present at the meeting held in July 2012 and the persons they were representing, the further

information sought by the Deputy in relation to the attendees concerned will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.