Blow to education on island of Inis Meáin

Some years ago, as part of a recognition of the needs of small island primary schools which do not have an option to amalgamate with other schools nearby, the minimum school enrolment was reduced to eight pupils.

It has only now come to light that the Department of Education is in the process of increasing this number back up to 17.

Here in Inis Meáin, the enrolment number dropped to six in 2011.

Although the enrolment number for 2012 is back at eight and we have had four births here in 18 months, the department moved immediately to remove the second teacher who has lived and worked all of her life on the island.

Then, because the school board of management did not co-operate with the department’s redeployment plans, they had their extra 10 learning support hours taken away also, thereby depriving local children of a basic right that is available to pupils in every other school in the country.

The second teacher was offered ridiculously unworkable redeployment options which could only be taken up if she were to relocate with her family to the mainland or to a neighbouring island. Contrast this with the Minister’s U-turn in the case of DEIS schools when faced with the powerful lobby of Labour TDs threatening revolt.

It appears that small offshore islands are now to downgrade to the status that existed in the last century under Education Minister Quinn’s regime.

Tarlach de Blácam

Inis Meáin

Árainn Cuan na Gaillimhe