Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 50:

In page 21, between lines 37 and 38, to insert the following: “(iv) An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta,”.

I will speak on this briefly. Amendment No. 50 seeks to insert "An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta", and amendment No. 72 also seeks "In page 32, between lines 22 and 23, to insert the following: “(f) An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta, and ”, to be included with the groups the Minister would consult.It is important they have that recognition. The Bill provides that An tÚdarás may, for planning of the development of higher education, consult such Ministers, An tSeirbhís, the Qualifications and Quality Assurance Authority of Ireland, the designated institutions of higher education, the students’ unions, and other such bodies. We believe the comhairle is one such body. It is established by the Department of Education and charged with providing evidence, advice and supporting resources for the development of Irish medium and Gaeltacht education. To develop a thriving Irish medium education sector at higher level, I believe An tÚdarás and An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta must work in tandem, and that recognition here would be important to ensure An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta becomes one of the specified bodies in order that administrative co-operation is encouraged and facilitated by this legislation.