Fianna Fáil’s Education Spokesperson Charlie McConalogue has said there is a mounting threat to the future of small schools in Co Donegal as the Government continues to sit on a report which could determine their future.
Charlie McConalogue TD
In response to questions from Deputy McConalogue in the Dáil, the Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn again refused to commit to a date for publishing the Value for Money review, which he has had since early this year.
“Minister Quinn has been sitting on this report for about nine months now, while uncertainty looms over the future of schools with less than 85 pupils. This uncertainty is highly damaging, as parents will understandably be less likely to send their children to a local school whose future is in doubt,” explained Deputy McConalogue.
“It’s my suspicion that this is exactly what Minister Quinn wants. He is deliberately creating uncertainty over the future of small schools as part of plan to squeeze them out. He has repeatedly cut resources for smaller schools and raised the pupil teacher ratio. It’s all part of a targeted attack aimed at forcing some small schools to merge or shut down entirely.”
The Inishowen Deputy said Donegal will be particularly badly hit by this targeted attack.
“We have among the highest number of smaller schools in the country, as well as a greater number of gaelscoileanna and minority faith schools. These schools cater for a vast geographical area and in many cases they provide much more to the local community than traditional teaching. Many of these schools have already lost a teacher and have seen their resources cut. Many now fear they could face closure.
“This is a policy by a Dublin based Minister who appears to have no understanding of the enormous value that a local school, however small, adds to a rural community. His attack on small schools makes no consideration of a school’s ethos, its catchment area and the key role it plays in the local community.”
He called on Minister Quinn to end this uncertainty, immediately publish the Value for Money review and come clean about his plans in relation to small schools.
“Parents and staff of smaller schools throughout Donegal have a right to know where they stand,” said Deputy McConalogue.