Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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16. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on her Department's engagement with the two national schools on Arranmore Island in County Donegal; if her Department has considered alternative proposals, apart from merging the two schools; if cutbacks will be reversed for small schools, as more focus is generated on the preservation of rural communities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15502/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is not aware of and has not received any proposal from the Patron or school authority in respect of a proposed amalgamation of the two schools concerned. The decision making authority for any amalgamation proposal belongs to the Patron of a school, subject to the approval of the Minister for Education and Skills. The initiative for an amalgamation may come from a variety of sources, such as parents, staff, Board of Management and Patron.

I recognise that small schools are an important part of the social fabric of rural communities and will continue to be so. It is for that reason that I recently announced that a voluntary protocol for amalgamation is being developed for the very smallest schools. The protocol is still under development. Under the protocol, it is envisaged that the Department will write to the patrons of all such schools that are located within an 8 km distance of another school of similar patronage and language of instruction. The letter will invite them to reflect on the benefits that amalgamation opportunities might provide in order to create more sustainable school communities into the future. Engagement with the protocol will be entirely voluntary.

The Deputy will also be aware of the improvement in the staffing levels for small schools contained in my Department's Circular 0005/2015, which is available on my Department's website at www.education.gov.ie. These improvements particularly recognise the challenges faced by very small schools that are more than 8 km from the next nearest school of the same type.