Ms Bláthnaid Ní Ghréacháin:

I will address the Gaelscoil issue. It is important to go back to the point that the enrolment criteria only kick in when there is over-subscription. According to our statistics, that happens in approximately 29% of cases in primary schools and 22% of cases at second level. As an organisation, we would love to be in a position where all applicants for a place in a Gaelscoil were accepted. Where that is not the case, it a source of great discouragement and causes upset among parents. Where there is over-subscription, schools are forced into this position. Many schools have a list of criteria which include language. Their first priority might be to choose children from families who speak Irish exclusively. As Dr. Ní Fhrighil mentioned, the figure is 3%, a tiny minority; therefore, one is talking about a maximum figure of one child in every 30. The second criterion which is often used is proficiency in the Irish language. There might be families who are bilingual or families where another minority language is spoken. That is also recognised. The position varies, but the third criterion might be active interest in the Irish language where parents are learning at the same rate as their children. Each of these groups has a special value and we welcome all of them. The point I tried to make earlier is that priority must be given to the tiny minority of children from families who speak Irish in accessing education in the language of communication at home.