Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We referenced Wales earlier. I visited there and was interested and keen to see how it was progressing on its ambitious targets. It is a programme for Government target. I believe Conradh na Gaeilge's view is that we should go from 6% to 20%. The programme for Government proposed 6% to 12%. I have not seen the draft. I made this point earlier. As it stands, it is just a framework. I do not quite know what is going to be in it when it comes to me. I will have to adjudicate on that at the time. However, there is an absolute ambition to increase the numbers. There is absolutely no doubt about that. Determining how best to do that is the trick. That is why there has been so much engagement. More than 5,000 questionnaires have been completed and there have been bilateral meetings with 29 organisations. There have also been focus group engagements with both adults and children. It has been quite comprehensive. The overall objective, shared by everybody we have engaged with, is to ensure that there is an increase in the numbers and an increase in the strength of the language. There is agreement there. Deputy Ó Cuív referenced going from the naíonra the whole way up and everything else. It is for that reason that the two Departments are working together closely. That is an objective.