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Small rural schools at risk as primary school enrolment falls. What can be done ?

We heard this morning that primary school enrolment has fallen by 6 thousand, 500 in the past yea...

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16.50 29 Jan 2026


Small rural schools at risk as primary school enrolment falls. What can be done ?


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16.50 29 Jan 2026


We heard this morning that primary school enrolment has fallen by 6 thousand, 500 in the past year –This is the biggest decline we have seen in recent years.

But is this just down to the declining population in primary school aged children or is there something that can be done to turn this figure around and save small rural schools here?

Ciara Doherty was joined by John Boyle, General Secretary from the Irish National Teachers Union and Michael Mac Donncha, primary school teacher and Chairperson of small schools from Connemara...


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The Hard Shoulder

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