Rural Resettlement Ireland (RRI) yesterday moved to secure the future of a primary school in a depopulated part of west Clare by lodging plans for four one-off houses in the area.
In all, the resettlement association has lodged plans with Clare County Council for 11 such homes in depopulated areas across west Clare.
Association director Jim Connolly said yesterday there was a crisis in relation to the future of rural schools in Clare and throughout rural Ireland.
"We are working alongside schools by bringing in families to ensure that the schools' future is secure." Mr Connolly said four of the 11 houses lodged for planning are in direct response to a call from the chairman of Tullycrine national school board of management.
Mary Lynch, one of two teachers at Tullycrine national school, said yesterday that the four new families moving into the area will mean the difference between Tullycrine being a one or a two-teacher school.
"We currently have 12 pupils at the school and that is just enough to justify two teachers. But if four new families move into the area, that will help secure the future of the school." Ms Lynch said it may be another 18 months before the families move into the area.
Mr Connolly said Doonaha primary school in west Clare "is now thriving because of the work of RRI in relocating families to the area". The association is currently concentrating its house-building programme in Clare as its programme in four other counties has been hindered by local government red tape, he added.
"Clare County Council's housing department, to its undying credit, has facilitated RRI in purchasing sites for housing. Unfortunately, Limerick County Council, Offaly County Council, Leitrim County Council and Mayo County Council have opted not to use this statutory instrument, which is very, very frustrating."
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