asked the Minister for Education if he will give an assurance that he will not close any more two-teacher schools except with the consent of parents and management, as the closing of these schools is undesirable from a social point of view.

The undertaking which my predecessor gave in this House in October, 1973, was that before a final decision is taken to close any school there will be consultation, and the views and opinions of those who may be opposed to the closing of the school will receive the fullest consideration. No such decision will be taken arbitrarily, or without the fullest weighing of all the factors involved. This is still the position.

The Minister said that consultation will take place. I want an assurance from him that except with the consent of the parents and management those schools will not be closed. If the parents and management think it is good to close those schools and have a bigger school that is all right but the Minister should not close them against the will of parents or management. Can he assure me that this will be the case?

I would not be quite willing at this stage to give such a categoric assurance. However, the Deputy can be assured that if the reasons put forward by the management and the parents involved in those schools are sound from the social, the educational or the financial point of view that school will not be closed.

Does the Minister think it is desirable to close two-teacher schools in rural areas from the social point of view?

In certain parts I would not say it is undesirable from a social point of view to close all two-teacher schools but I think there are certain instances where it is undesirable.

It seems that the Department arrive at a decision before consulting the parents or management and that the procedure then is that the management board and the parents have to fight a case to hold their schools.

I do not think that is the case. Any proposal to close a school will, of course, be discussed. Obviously the Department will consider the advantages in the closure and amalgamation of one and two-teacher schools. They would not force that decision. First of all, they would discuss it with the management, the parents and other interests involved.

I do not think that is the fact.

I hope it is.

I would like to impress on the Minister that consultation after a decision has been made is not consultation at all. I want consultation before the decision is made and consideration taken of the views expressed by the people concerned.

A question, please.

The Deputy can take it that consideration will be given to the views expressed.