Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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192. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will reverse the 2012 decision to raise enrolment thresholds for two, three and four-teacher schools in view of the damage that has been caused to schools in rural communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28471/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I have made clear on a number of occasions that the final phase of the Budget 2012 measure in relation to small schools will not be suspended. My Department has expanded the existing appeals process so that it is accessible to the schools that are affected by the budget measure. In this regard small schools will not lose their classroom post if they are projecting sustainable increased enrolments in September 2014 that would be sufficient to allow them to retain their existing classroom posts over the longer term. 36 small schools that were due to lose a classroom post in September are provisionally retaining it on the basis of their appeal. The final position will be known in the Autumn when 30 September 2014 actual enrolments are confirmed.

The Government recognises that small schools are an important part of the social fabric of rural communities. They will continue to be a feature of our education landscape. In these extremely challenging times, all public servants are being asked to deliver our public services on a reduced level of resources and teachers in small schools cannot be immune from this requirement. How best to sustain provision for widely dispersed and small local communities does present as a particular challenge, especially in any locality where enrolment is declining to single figures. I am mindful of the concerns of smaller schools and rural schools. Our overall primary school enrolment has been growing rapidly in recent years and this is going to continue. In managing the resource consequences of this, it is important that decisions on school provision and organisation are based on a rigorous evaluation of requirements and needs, not just at a local level but also at both regional and national levels.

Our current configuration of small primary schools has been examined by the Department in a value for money (VFM) review. This review took account of the ethos of schools and the locations of small schools relative to other schools of a similar type. I am currently considering this review in consultation with my Government colleagues and I intend to publish the report on completion of this consideration process.