Ryan O'Meara (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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242. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider reopening a school (details supplied) under new patronage, considering that there is a sufficient demand of children in the area, and the closure of the school is a great loss to the community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36957/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that the decision-making authority for any change of status, including school closure and change of patronage, is the patron/trustees of the school concerned and it is open to any patron to submit proposals to the Department for consideration.

Any proposal for school closure must involve extensive consultation with all of the relevant stakeholders, parents, teachers, students and local communities and follow decisions taken at local level. Such proposals are subject to the agreement of the Department of Education and Youth. The patron of the school referred to by the Deputy decided to close the school at the end of the current school year and the Department agreed to this proposal. Prior to agreement, the Department satisfied itself that there was good capacity across other schools in the relevant school planning area at present and into the future. Accordingly, there is therefore no plans to reopen this school under either the current or an alternative patron.