Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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436. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the existing procedure regarding the amalgamation of schools being revised, as a matter of urgency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6705/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that the decision making authority for school amalgamations belongs to the Patron of a school, and this is subject to the approval of the Minister for Education and Skills.

As the Deputy will appreciate, any such proposal must first involve consultation with all of the relevant stakeholders. Following the consultation process, a decision taken at local level will follow. In that regard, any proposed changes must be well planned and managed in a manner that accommodates the interests of students, parents, teachers, local communities and contributes to an inclusive education system.

All agreed proposals must be submitted to my Department. Proposals that may have major capital funding implications will also however be considered by my Department within the context of competing demands on my Department's capital budget imposed by the need to prioritise available funding for the provision of essential school classroom accommodation.