A Galway Senator is calling on the Minister for Education, Ruairí Quinn to review the Government's position on small rural schools.

In the Seanad this week, Senator Fidelma Healy-Eames said some schools in Galway fear they will lose teachers because of the new pupil-teacher ratio.

Minister of State, Ciaran Cannon responded on behalf of the Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn and said a third of the country's public servants work in the education sector.

The Minister for Education is due to receive details of the 'Value for Money' report in the next 8 weeks.

The matter was also raised in Screeb in Connemara yesterday [Feb 3] where parents, teachers and pupils held a protest in opposition to government plans.