asked the Minister for Education if he is aware of the unease in the Callow/Foxford area of County Mayo about reports of the proposed closure of the relatively new school there; and if he will take into account the views of the parents and teachers and have consultations with them before any action is taken about closing the school.

My Department have proposed the amalgamation of Killasser, Carrowmore and Callow national schools in a new central school for the parish, the new school to be sited at Killasser. Consultation with all the local interests involved is proceeding and the views of all these interests will be taken into account before the building of the new central school is approved.

In view of the Minister's statement recently will it be the Department's role in the future to initiate such recommendations for amalgamations?

In certain cases the Department would initiate discussions. Where the amalgamation was thought locally to be of advantage to the children the initiative would come from the local people. There will be no forcing by my Department of their views on the local people.

Will the Minister's attitude on recommendations be to force them as strongly as they were in the past?

Absolutely not.