The Minister for Education has said his department is going to have to look at the viability of some small rural schools, given changing demographics and the need to get value for money.
Batt O'Keeffe said while there is no immediate threat to such schools it was necessary to look at ways of providing a more central school system with the best possible facilities for children.
A new Geographical mapping system is being used by the Department of Education to plan future school provision.
That system shows demand growing hugely in urban areas mostly in the east of the country. However, in some rural areas demand is diminishing.
The Minister said however that the social aspects of small rural schools would have to be taken into account.
Such schools he said gave a sense of place and a pride of place to communities. Overall places for an additional 100,000 children will have to be created over the next ten years.
