Connolly calls for Small Schools Project to go nationwide after proven success
Published on: 16 December 2025
Fianna Fáil TD for Galway West, John Connolly, has called for the Government to make the Small Schools Project a permanent feature and for the scheme to be rolled out to other schools.
Raising the issue in the Dáil last week, Deputy Connolly asked the Minister of State at the Department of Education, Michael Moynihan, who was standing in for the Minister for Education, whether the Small Schools Project could be rolled out nationwide.
The Small Schools Project, first established in 2021, brings small schools together in local clusters, enabling them to collaborate, identify common challenges, and trial innovative solutions. The project currently consists of six clusters of small schools: two in Galway and one each in Donegal, Kerry, Wicklow, and Waterford, with each cluster comprising between three and five schools.
Speaking about its positive impact in Galway, Deputy Connolly said:
“There have been many positive aspects to this pilot project, first introduced by Minister Norma Foley. I would like to see this project put on a firm footing and expanded nationally. The published evaluation of the scheme highlight the many positive impacts the scheme has had for the participating schools.”
He added: “Other communities that have seen the benefits of the clustering project in neighbouring schools have contacted me, pointing out that there are a number of similar small schools in their area and asking if the scheme can be expanded to include a new cluster in their community.”
In his response, Minister of State Michael Moynihan stated that an interim report showed that “feedback from schools has been extremely positive”.
He also reaffirmed the Programme for Government’s commitment to supporting small schools, which includes a number of measures such as the introduction of new national small schools’ projects and training in new administrative supports.
Reflecting on his own experience with the scheme, Deputy Connolly highlighted the reduced administrative burden on principals and staff, as well as the appointment of administrative officers.
“Principals could cluster their release days so that, when a principal was on a release day for administrative duties, the same substitute teacher was in place each day. This provided great consistency and continuity for the school and pupils. The person covering the release days did so across the entire cluster, meaning the combination of the release days provided consistent work for an additional teacher in the community."
“A second benefit comes directly from the cluster in Gort, where a cluster administrative officer was appointed. Reflections of the participating schools was that this measure should be expanded to all small schools.”
Concluding, Deputy Connolly said he looked forward to the further evaluation of the project and how the learnings from the pilot project would inform policy as quickly as possible.
ENDS
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John Connolly TD
