Ms Treasa Ní Mheanín:

I have also noted this point which also refers to the Chairman's point about the demographic changes. I may be open to correction because I did not look up this information before I came to the meeting. I think that the most recent census showed a small decrease in population but nothing that was hugely significant. However, the Connemara Gaeltacht west of the city has seen a significant increase in population for obvious reasons. Overall, there has been a small decrease in population but it is not hugely significant.

Ms Ní Chartúir wishes to add to the discussion about the posts that have been lost and to which Deputy Griffin referred. Six posts were lost in the 2012 to 2013 period. There will be four and possibly more posts lost. I wish to deal with another aspect of this issue. Last year, 30 hours of learning support in Gaeltacht schools were lost because of the loss of those six teaching posts. This has a significant impact on those children. A minimum of four posts, which is another 20 hours, will be lost in learning support for children in Gaeltacht areas this September. There is a significant knock-on effect with regard to the pupil-teacher ratio, PTR, and the tacaíocht foghlama.

My colleague, Ms Ní Chartúir, will expand on some of the points raised.