Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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95. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the engagement her Department has had with the patron or board of management of a school (details supplied) with regard to the participation of this school in the small schools clusters action research project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15264/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Department launched a two-year action research project in 2021 aimed at supporting small rural schools by encouraging a number of small schools to cluster together in local groups enabling them to collaborate and identify common challenges and trial innovative solutions.

This project was developed by a working group of school management bodies and teachers’ unions with the Department for Education, as part of the programme of work of the Primary Education Forum (PEF). As a pilot project it was not possible to include all small schools in this two-year action research project.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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96. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the schools involved in the small schools clusters action research project; the location of these schools; the details of the cluster they are part of in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15265/22]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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97. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the small schools clusters action project; if she has received any interim reports to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15266/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 97 together.

My Department launched a two-year action research project in 2021 aimed at supporting small rural schools by encouraging a number of small schools to cluster together in local groups, enabling them to collaborate and identify common challenges and trial innovative solutions. This project was developed by a working group of school management bodies and teachers’ unions with the Department for Education, as part of the programme of work of the Primary Education Forum (PEF).

The project consists of six clusters of small schools (East and West Galway, Donegal, Waterford, Wicklow and Kerry), consisting of 3/4/5 schools per cluster. The clusters are supported by local and national coordinators, which will develop and trial innovative new ways of operating.

The project commenced in Q4 2021 and will operate for the two year life-cycle. As an integral part of the project, evaluation will take place with an interim report at the end of year one and a final report at the end of the project. The clusters and the schools involved are included here in tabular form:

Donegal, northwest:

Galway, Gort

Galway Iorrais Aitheach

Ciarrai.Cill Airne

Wicklow

Waterford