I welcome the announcement of two new policies to support smaller schools.  

The new policies will see improved changes to the staffing schedule and a voluntary protocol for future sustainability of one teacher schools with reducing enrolments.

This will assist many schools in Tipperary.  Small schools play a vital role in many parts of the county and are key to local communities. It is a vital piece of social infrastructure to rural communities and particularly in isolated areas. The new policies today will provide some improvement to the staffing levels of our smallest schools. These improvements recognise the challenges faced by small schools that are more than 8km from the nearest school type.

A value for money and policy review of small schools was commissioned by the previous Fianna Fail led Government, but will not be proceeded with by this Government.

This package will provide rural communities with security about the future of their small communities, recognising the essential social function which small schools can play.