Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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730. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to outline her views in relation to having a small schools pilot project, which operates as clusters with one administrator working on behalf of the pilot project, that could include 3-6 small schools and teachers could continue teaching in these schools at primary level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58484/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The government is very aware that small schools are an important part of the life of local communities. The Programme for Government provides for a number of measures to support small schools, including introducing a new national small schools' project and trialling new administrative supports.

The current small schools' project is currently being implemented on a pilot basis to support collaboration and sharing of resources among small schools in rural areas. Learnings from the evaluation of the current small schools' project will be invaluable and will form a strong basis to inform the future policy direction in relation to all small schools. This will include the development in my department of future proposals to deliver on the Programme for Government commitment.