Doonaha parents’ group launch Facebook campaign

Parents of Doonaha National School pupils are using the power of social media by launching a Facebook campaign called ‘Save Small Schools – Ireland’ to allow the voices of all small schools to be heard. This follows a parent-teacher meeting in response to the ‘Value for Money’ review by the Departments of Education and Finance.

In a statement issued to The Clare Champion by Ila and Tony Collins on behalf the parents, they encouraged people to support their campaign.
“Everyone is urged to express their support on this Facebook page, which can be found using a Google search. The response in just two weeks has been very encouraging, including over 6,000 views and 150 responses from all across Ireland,” the statement read.
“It is anticipated that this campaign will continue to snowball nationwide. Parents of Doonaha school pupils have also written to Mary Carney, secretary to the Review Committee (DES), expressing their extremely positive experience with the school.
“The school offers a unique combination of high-quality education, personal attention to special needs of children, multicultural integration, all within a family atmosphere. There is a strong unity and collaboration between teachers, parents and pupils due to a transparent and democratic style of management and communication,” the statement added.
The parents state possible plans to close small schools is unlikely to result in money being saved. “It is estimated that the potential savings of €20 million from closing small schools would come at a cost of at least €150 million in building programmes to facilitate the change.
“What is to become of the existing infrastructure of small schools except more derelict buildings attracting local crime? What about the local GAA clubs when communities are destroyed? The maths for this review is clear – maximum political pain for minimum financial gain,” the statement concluded.