Small schools in fear following ‘selective leaks’

Smaller schools fear for their existence following what a teachers’ leader branded as selective leaking by the education minister, Ruairi Quinn, of a report on their future.

Ahead of his attendance at the annual congress of the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) this morning, Mr Quinn’s pre- election commitment on the future of rural schools was read to delegates by INTO president Anne Fay last night.

In Feb 2011, he said Labour had never supported the forcible amalgamation of rural schools. But his comments in a weekend interview about a forthcoming review by his department is causing concerns in rural communities.