Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta. Maidir leis na deontais ar an gcéad dul síos, from the point of view of the grants not being payable to the private colleges, with the best will in the world and if we had a bountiful, endless finance opportunity, that would not be a question. These are private colleges which, as the name suggests, are just that.

Significant accommodation was made in that the colleges were given flexibility to create their own courses in respect of the tréimhse sa Ghaeltacht. At this point, the provision of the grant represents a significant cost. I welcome the fact that I was able to restore the grant in the budget but there is a significant cost attached to that. Aontaím leis an Teachta ó thaobh na béime atá curtha ar an nGaeilge sna scoileanna. I agree with the Deputy with regard to the emphasis being put on Gaeilge in the schools and the progress we can see in that regard. He is right; there has been significant progress in respect of cur chun cinn na Gaeilge leis na blianta beaga anuas. I am very pleased to say that we now have a Gaeltacht education unit. We also have a significant policy on Gaeltacht education and are working on a strategy for Irish-medium education. The Deputy makes an excellent point with regard to the overarching strategy. I hear what he is saying in that regard. With regard to achievements in the area of Irish education, it is worth noting that we now have more than 250 Irish-medium schools in the country at primary level and 49 at second level. When a new school is being built and there is no Gaelscoil within the area, that is provided for. Where there is any indication of interest in the promotion of Gaeilge and the provision of education through Gaeilge, and where there would be sufficient uptake of such education, we will provide an aonad. It is not an ideal circumstance, but it is acknowledgement of the importance of the issue and the béim or emphasis being placed on it. We have been very proactive in advancing Irish. I appreciate the point the Deputy is making with regard to the overarching vision but what has been achieved in the different sectors collectively is enormously impressive. We continue to work on a variety of other strategies including the strategy for Irish-medium education that I mentioned.