Funding reductions announced in last month's Budget statement could result in small schools having to share classroom and teaching resources, one minister has stated.

Speaking on RTE's The Week in Politics show, Alan Kelly said that while it is not a goal of the government to close small educational facilities, some concessions will have to be made.

He stated it will be necessary for schools that are located close to each other to share resources.

However, it was claimed by Sean Fleming of Fianna Fail that the "economies of scale between schools" will result in closures and lead to pupils being bussed to larger facilities.

Meanwhile, a meeting has taken place in Co Cork this week to express concern over cuts to education in remote parts of the country.

The Save Our Small Schools campaign heard from Clara McGowan, principal of St James NS in Durrus, who said increases to the pupil-teacher ratio are contributing to "death by a thousand cuts" for rural communities, the Irish Examiner reported.

Written by Donal Walsh

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