Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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229. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children expected to start school in September 2019; and the estimated proportion of children born in 2015 who are assumed to make use of the second year of early childhood care and education, ECCE. [3098/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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According to the Department's projections of first level enrolments, 65,700 children are expected in Junior Infants in the 2019/2020 academic year. Futher information on these projections can be found on the Department's website at the following link:

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The ECCE Scheme is the responsiblity of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, and they would be best placed to provide information on the uptake of the scheme.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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230. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the expected fall in national school pupils in County Donegal from current levels in years (details supplied), respectively. [3099/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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I 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. 

I also wish to advise the Deputy that the decision making authority for a school closure belongs to the Patron of a school, and this is subject to the agreement of the Department. Any proposal to close a school must involve consultation with all of the relevant stakeholders, parents, teachers, students and local communities and follow decisions taken at local level.

I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has not received any correspondence from the patrons of primary schools in County Donegal relating to plans to close schools under their patronage.