Hundreds to meet over risk to West Cork schools

HUNDREDS of people are expected to attend a meeting in West Cork tonight as fears mount that Government-imposed budget cuts will lead to the closure of up to 10 rural schools in the region within three years.

The meeting, which will be held in the Parkway Hotel, Dunmanway at 7.30pm, was sparked by fears that unless the move is reversed it will lead to the closure of some schools which are set to be amalgamated with others when teacher numbers drop.

Clara McGowan, spokes-woman for the campaign group Save Our Small Schools (SOSS), said that in particular there were a number of two-teacher schools in the region which would be at risk if they were to lose a teacher.