At least 11 schools in County Galway will lose a teacher in September, according to new figures published this week.
The following schools are set to lose at least one teacher in September as part of the Government’s three-year plan to cut teacher numbers in small rural schools: Scoil Náisúnta Cill Conaill, Ballinasloe; Scoil Náisúnta Cill Soláin Caltra; Soil Naomh Íosef, Castlehackett, Belclare; Ballymacward Central, Ballinasloe; Scoil Náisúnta Baile An Leasa, Dunmore; Cloghans National School, Tuam; Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal, Ballycar; Scoil Náisúnta An Ard Mhóir, Carna; Scoil Mhuire, Toureen, Bealdangan.
In addition to this, Scoil Náisúnta Mhic Dara in An Cheathrú Rua and Scoil Mhuire in Clifden will lose a teacher each under the DEIS cuts being enforced by the Education Minister Ruairí Quinn.
Galway East Fianna Fáil TD Michael Kitt said this is “the first phase of this Government’s attempts to force the closure of a number of small rural schools across the country, and particularly in the west”.
Dep Kitt said this was a “deeply flawed policy that unfairly targets rural communities”. He believes the actions are being undertaken with a view to “force the amalgamation” of small schools, resulting in “some rural communities losing their local school altogether”.
“This is about much more than education policy; it’s about preserving smaller communities in rural Ireland,” he said. “Many of these communities have already suffered cuts to other local amenities like their Garda stations and post offices. The social and economic consequences to them losing their local schools at this time would be huge.”
