The Education Authority (EA) has suggested that the managing authority of a rural primary school in north west Fermanagh should consult on options on future provision of the school. 
In the second of three annual plans which identify the schemes to be brought forward over the next 12 months, the EA said the key issue at the three-teacher St. John the Baptist Primary School at Roscor, which has 46 pupils on its roll, is to address school provision where sustainability is an issue.
The action it suggests is that the consultation on options for the future of the school should be done by March 2019.
Actions to be taken at other schools are also identified: 
Looking at the wider context for Catholic maintained post-primary provision in Fermanagh including Enniskillen, Derrylin and Irvinestown, the key issue identified is addressing school provision where sustainability is an issue. Managing authority and Trustees are to consult on options for future provision within the context of a local area solution by March 2019. 
At Holy Trinity PS, the managing authority is to consult on the decrease of admission number and enrolment number by June 2018.
n Jones Memorial PS in Enniskillen, the managing authority is also to consult on the decrease of admission number and enrolment number by June 2018.
At St Kevin’s College, Lisnaskea, and at Devenish College in Enniskillen, a key issue identified for both schools is to establish learning support and autism specific provision. Managing authorities are to consult on options for the establishment of Autistic Spectrum Disorder Centres for Children at Key Stages 3 and 4 and General Learning Support Centre for children at Key Stages 3 and 4 by March 2019.
The plan notes that in the Fermanagh and Omagh Council area there has been a reduction of 215 in the number of available school places in the Primary schools. 
In Post-Primary schools there has been an increase of 61 available places compared to the corresponding figure in the 2016 Annual Area Profiles.
For 2015/16, there were eight primary schools with deficit of more than five per cent and 13 with a surplus of more than £75,000. 45 had a surplus of more than five per cent. 
There were seven post-primaries with a surplus of more than £75,000, and four with a deficit of more than five per cent. 
This plan comes after Education Authority (EA) published Providing Pathways – A Strategic Area Plan for School Provision 2017-2020 in April last year.  
The plan has been produced in partnership with the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS), Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta (CnaG), the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (NICIE), the Controlled Schools’ Support Council (CSSC), Governing Bodies Association (GBA), and the Catholic Schools’ Trustee Service.
EA Director of Education John Collings said: “In many areas of Northern Ireland there are too many school places for the size of the population, while in other areas, there are not enough places. 
“It may also be the case that there are not enough school places of the right type – perhaps demand for integrated or Irish medium education isn’t being met in a particular area. 
“Area planning seeks solutions to these issues to ensure all pupils have the opportunity to fulfil their potential. 
“Some areas may have relatively simple solutions such as increasing the enrolment number of a school, while other areas may require amalgamations, change of school management type, or sharing of resources. 
“All local solutions will of course be subject to full consultation.”
The plan is available to download at www.eani.org.uk/schools/area-planning/annual-action-plans/.