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Schools
Parents' fears over future of small primary schools
Fears among parent groups that Department of Education review could lead to the closure of local schools
INTEREST GROUPS WILL make their final presentations to the Department of Education today about the future of small primary schools.
The department has undertaken a review of all schools with fewer than 50 pupils to examine whether they represent value for money, RTE reports.
Because of this, parents groups and rural communities have raised concerns that the review could lead to the closure of local schools.
The Department of Education says this review aims to see if the money being spent on these schools is being spent wisely.
There are just under 600 primary schools in Ireland – many in rural areas – that cater for fewer than 50 pupils, and the McCarthy report recommended amalgamating these schools with others. This, said the report, would save an estimated €18m.
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