John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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406. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary school closures where there are 30 or more students for the 2017-18 academic year and the 2016-17 academic year respectively, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38203/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I wish to clarify for the Deputy that there were no primary school closures with 30 or more students for the school years 2016/2017 or 2017/2018.

I also wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is very aware of the importance of small schools to rural communities and particularly the most dispersed and remote communities.  To provide such communities with security about the future of their schools, a commitment is contained in the Programme for a Partnership Government not to close any small school without the consent of parents.

In that regard, there were 3 primary school closures in school year 2016/17 and one primary school closure in school year 2017/18.  These schools, which did not have sustainable pupil numbers, closed with the agreement of the Patrons concerned.