Patron ‘aware’ of school concerns

EDUCATIONAL authorities are seeking to find out if a Killarney primary school is to reopen as usual in September amid local fears no pupils might be enrolled there in the new academic year.

Two Mile National School on the outskirts of Killarney is currently the focus of deep concern locally amid fears that few, if any, pupils will be enrolled there come September.

Parents informed The Kerryman last week of the concerns, citing retirements and a decline in pupil numbers over recent years as the primary reasons for their fears. Due to last year’s enrolment figure of 17 pupils, the school can only continue as a one-teacher school under the Department of Education’s strict pupil/teacher ratio rules from September.

Two of the three teachers working in the school retired last week in another development at Two Mile.

Cathaoirleach of Killarney Municipal Authority of Kerry Councy Council and past pupil Cllr Brendan Cronin said he now fears the Department of Education might move to close the school due to dwindling enrolments.

A spokesperson for the school patron St Brendan’s Trust of the Diocese of Kerry informed The Kerryman that it is ‘aware there are questions being raised in relation to the future of Two Mile National School.’

They said they are now seeking ‘clarity’ on the matter. ‘No correspondence has been received from the Board of Management saying the school is to be closed. This is a requirement on the closure of any school,’ they added. A spokesperson for the Department of Education meanwhile said it is in ‘contact’ with the Patron. “The Patron of the school has advised the Department it is consulting with the Board of Management.”