'Children happier in rural schools'

A Westport councillor has claimed that the trend towards sending children to larger schools is misguided as they feel happier in smaller schools in rural areas.

During a discussion on rural planning at the May meeting of Westport-Belmullet Municpal District, Cllr John O’Malley stated: “I know people who think it is great having kids cycling five and six miles so that a whole lot of children can be at the one school, but it is not true. 

"Many children from Westport are now coming down to Carraholly National School, also to the Myna school, and the children feel happier there. 

"Big is not the way forward. In America they are stopping the big schools and building smaller schools. The child gets better attention and there is less chance of being bullied without it being noticed. With big schools we are moving backward and not forward."

The Independent councillor said a good local school was crucial in the development of rural areas, referring to Kilmeena's GAA success in recent years.

"We have a good football team in Kilmeena but if we didn’t have the people living there and in the half parish, we would not, and that is why the school is successful, because people are living local.”

• Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.