Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 May 2026
102. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the commitment included in the Programme for Government to introduce a new national small schools project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40345/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly, I would like to take the opportunity to thank the 26 schools participating in the small school's pilot project for their commitment, ingenuity, resourcefulness and willingness to try new ideas and approaches which will prove invaluable in the development of policy for all small schools.
The Government understands and recognises the value that small schools play in their communities and wishes to support schools to continue in this important role.
Delivering on the Programme for Government commitment to introduce a new national small schools’ project for all small primary schools, of which there are approximately 1,300, is an important element of achieving this aim.
The pilot small schools project has run since 2021 providing an opportunity for 26 small schools in six clusters to trial new ideas to support the sustainability of small schools in the longer term.
To date the department has provided funding through an innovation fund that has cost €195,000 towards the pilot. Other associated costs such as substitutional cover and retained posts are estimated to cost in the region of €1 million for the duration of the current pilot project.
A final evaluation of the project is commencing shortly and is expected to be completed by the year end.
This evaluation is an important feature of the pilot project, as learnings from the final evaluation will form the basis of developing a new plan to support the sustainability of small schools and to give effect to implementing the Programme for Government commitment.
In order that the evaluation can be completed successfully it will be necessary for the clusters to remain in place for the duration of the evaluation process. In doing so, the evaluators have access to all parties involved in the project, and that they can see the operation of the clustersin practice.
This will allow the evaluation to be completed which is critical in capturing all of the good work and ideas that have being trialled in the project to date.
