asked the Minister for Education the names of the one-teacher and two-teacher school in County Limerick; the schools that will be affected by his statement in Cork last February regarding the future of such schools; and the moneys that are available for the up-keep of these schools.

A list of the one-and two-teacher schools in County Limerick is being circulated with the Official Report. It is not possible to say what money would be involved for works of improvement at these schools, as each case will have to be considered on its merits.

Following is the statement:

Limerick

Can the Minister say how many schools are in the list?

More than 30.

Is the effect of the Minister's reply that none of these schools will have to be closed by the Department if the people in the area want to keep it open? Will he make available the funds that may be necessary to provide such basic facilities as may be necessary?

If schools are to be closed it will be because the local people do not want them. It may be that if the enrolment in a school fell to a very low level in a one-teacher school we would decide that it would be in the interests of the pupils to allow the school to be closed and have the pupils moved to a larger unit.

I want to get from the Minister whether there is any question of the Minister or the Department encouraging or exhorting students to go from one school to another in an effort to run down one school and then ease it out eventually.

There is no question of that.