Written answers
Tuesday, 28 February 2017
Department of Education and Skills
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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291. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of single teacher schools in County Clare in each of the years 2010 to 2016, in tabular form; the current teacher pupil ratio in 2017 in these schools in County Clare; his plans to close any of them; and if so, the location of the schools and number of pupils in them. [9785/17]
Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that there have been 8 one teacher schools in the area to which he refers in the period 2010 to date. A table with details of the individual schools and their enrolment trends over the period concerned follows. The enrolment numbers for 2016 represent the enrolment for the 2016-17 academic year.
| - | - | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roll No. | Official School Name | Pupils enrolled | Pupils enrolled | Pupils enrolled | Pupils enrolled | Pupils enrolled | Pupils enrolled | Pupils enrolled | Comment |
| 08241P | SCROPUL N S | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Scropul NS Ennis, Co. Clare, Roll No. 08241P and Coore NS, Ennis, Co. Clare, Roll No. 10191P amalgamated with effect from 1st September, 2012. The new school name is Coore NS, Mullagh, Ennis, Co. Clare, Roll No. 20404M |
| 10568N | S N CUIBHREANN | 23 | 25 | 25 | 20 | 16 | 11 | 7 | |
| 12633I | COOLMEEN N S | 23 | 20 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 11 | 10 | |
| 12848G | DOONAHA N S | 12 | 14 | 10 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 21 | Increased to a 2 teacher school in 2016 |
| 14111L | CROSS N S | 31 | 31 | 30 | 25 | 18 | 9 | 6 | |
| 15968I | BALTARD N S | 10 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Closed in August, 2013 |
| 17898A | S N IOSEF NAOFA | 12 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | SN Iosef Naofa, Broadford, via Limerick, Co. Clare, Roll No. 17898A and Scoil na Maighdine Muire, Broadford, Co. Clare, Roll No. 17801F amalgamated with effect from 1st September, 2014. The new school name is Broadford & Kilbane National School, Roll No. 20452A. |
| 18740Q | SHANNON AIRPORT NO 2 NS | 25 | 24 | 22 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 19 | Increased to a 2 teacher school in 2016 |
| Year | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single Teacher Schools | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 3 |
| Pupils attending single teacher schools | 17 | 9 | 12 | 21 | 40 | 57 | 23 |
I can confirm that just one of the schools concerned was closed in the period referred to. A further 2 schools amalgamated with larger schools. Two of the remaining 5 schools gained a post and became 2 teacher schools in 2016/17 school year.
Of the remaining 3 schools, my Department has no plans to close the schools in question. The initiative for closing a school may come from a variety of sources, such as parents, staff, Board of Management, Patron and the Department. Any proposal to close a school must involve consultation with all of the relevant stakeholders and follow decisions taken at local level.
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