In recent years an investment of over €700,000 has been spent in Ballinderreen NS.

Last Sept the School submitted their enrolment numbers for Sept 2022, and were 1 short of the 194 students to maintain current compliment of teachers.

Since then an additional 6 students have enrolled for Sept 2022, but the Dept have refused their appeal to retain the current compliment of teachers for Sept 2022.

So the outcome is that

- 4th, 5th 6th Classes have to be divided in to two Classes of 36 each

- A new Classroom lies idle

- Students will obviously be disadvantaged by this, and its totally unfair on teachers to be asked to teach 36 students.

As parents, and as a broader community we find this decision to be unacceptable and illogical, and certainly against the best interests of our children and our teachers, as well as the stated priorities of the Department for smaller class sizes, teacher well-being, and continued public health in the face of a post-covid world (classroom overcrowding). 

We want this decision overturned. 

Minister Foley please address this immediately.