Marie Moloney (Labour) | Oireachtas source

How do I follow that contribution? I could not speak for that length of time as Béarla nó as Gaeilge. I have an observation and a question. Is this open to legal challenge by people living in the Gaeltacht? Is it their constitutional right, having been born in a Gaeltacht area to Gaeltacht parents who speak Irish, to be taught through the medium of Irish? I ask the question because these things are not beyond the bounds of possibility. I wonder why there is a discrepancy between the figures as to the number of Gaeltacht primary schools. One witness has stated there are 142 schools and another witness states there are 132. I ask for clarification on which is correct.

I do not wish to cast aspersions but it is regarded as a small problem because there is a little pocket here and another pocket there. I note this is evident in the attendance at this meeting. The people remaining in the room today are the people with Gaeltacht areas in their constituency. The attitude of those who do not is that it is not their problem and they are out the door. That is the reality. The four members remaining have Gaeltacht areas in their constituencies. Is the Department taking the approach that this is only a small problem because there are only small pockets here and there? I would appreciate the comments of the witnesses.