Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

682. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent of her ongoing dialogue with the authorities in respect of smaller urban or rural denominational schools, with a view to, insofar as is possible, meeting the concerns of the school authorities involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34675/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am aware of the concerns of the authorities of the smaller denominational schools. There are many aspects to be considered in regard to school provision, apart from pupil enrolment. Among them are questions such as availability of diversity of provision, ethos of schools, parental choice, language of instruction, pupil travel distances, transport costs and the impact of schools on dispersed rural communities. I am very aware of the importance of small schools to rural communities, and particularly the most dispersed and remote communities. In this regard, I announced an improved change to the staffing schedule for small schools that are more than 8km distant from the next nearest school of the same type of patronage and language of instruction. This change is being implemented with effect from this school year, 2015/16 and is intended to provide rural communities with security about the future of their small schools.