Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Aontaím leis an Teachta. Is maith an rud é go bhfuil daoine ag lorg Gaelscoileanna agus Gaelcholáistí. Aontaím léi ó thaobh an phointe sin. I agree absolutely that it is our aspiration that there would be greater access, opportunity, and greater prevalence of availability in terms of the Gaelscoileanna and the Gaelcholáistí. In terms of balance, since 2019 there have been 47 new Irish-medium schools established. We give particular concession for the establishment of Gaelcholáistí. Generally, for a new school to be established the requirement is between 600 and 1,000 pupils. There is a lessor requirement when it comes to the Gaelcholáistí in that 400 will be sufficient to inaugurate a Gaelcholáiste. Equally so, I will be clear that the patronage process is open to everyone. We are very keen that we would work hand in hand where there is a need. We have representatives from the planning and building unit here as well who will be very happy to provide some of the specific cases the Deputy has raised. Where there is a demographic need, if they can reach the 400, there will be the establishment of a school. If that is not possible, it is open to any English-medium school to establish an aonad. I know people have mixed views around the aonaid but many of the Gaelcholáistí we have ag an bpointe seo started in an aonad. The policy we are currently looking at or examining in terms of policy for Irish-medium schools outside of the Gaeltacht is looking very specifically at what opportunities, initiatives and what we can do in terms of growing the number of Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí. We are very focused on it. We want to support it to the best of our ability and therefore in examples such as the threshold decrease and the establishment of the aonaid, we are happy to work with that going forward.