Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. The Department wants to support the establishment and the development of the Gaelcholáistí. In fact, and I mentioned it earlier, it is significant to say that since 2019 there have been 47 schools coming from the Irish-language medium established. As the Deputy has referenced, we are giving particular concession to the establishment of Gaelcholáistí in terms of the reduction of the requirement to 400 pupils as opposed to between 600 and 1,000. Notwithstanding that, he specifically raised Dublin 2, 4, 6 and 8. I am very conscious of it. I have met with representatives and I know their absolute determination. I agree 100% with the Deputy on how fantastic it is to hear young people speaking as Gaeilge and being very happy to do it. I hear what he is saying. There are three schools there, namely, Coláiste Eoin, Coláiste Íosagáin, and Gaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh. I will go back to what the Deputy said in that this will not meet the demand, but regarding Coláiste Eoin and Coláiste Íosagáin, the patronage there has agreed to the technical assessments there to ensure there may well be potential to make additional availability for places there. My understanding is that there is availability of places in Gaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh. Notwithstanding that, it is also very interesting to point out that in terms of the Irish-medium schools we have, both primary and post-primary, there is a 70% occupancy in those schools. Therefore, there is availability of places in many of the Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí which we have. However, in terms of the new schools that would be coming on stream, there has been no determination in Dublin 2 and 4 in terms of patronage or language medium or whatever. We have two representatives here from the planning and building unit and maybe Ms Fidelma Lyons or Mr. Murty Hanly could come in from the planning and building side of things. I want to be clear that we are very committed to doing it but we must ensure there is the need for it.