Eileen Flynn (Independent)
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I welcome the witnesses. To follow on from Deputy Farrell's comments, reducing the time dedicated to our national language by 30 minutes per week is appalling in today's world.

I remember, when I was in school, being put down the back of the class for Irish and being put aside in third and fourth class for different languages like Spanish or French. It sounds, from the response, like that is still the reality in our schools. From speaking to many Traveller children, I know they still, unfortunately, do not get the opportunity to learn Irish in school. My wee girl is five and she started school in September. She absolutely loves Irish. The Cathaoirleach Gníomhach knows very well from being here that I have no Irish. She is trying to educate me. Children at five or six years of age are sponges. Even last week, she was saying to me, "Mammy, you don't know Irish." I tell her to go to her daddy or try my best with her. That was me being like many members of the Traveller community and people from other ethnic minority groups, as well as people with disabilities like dyslexia and dyspraxia, being denied being able to have their own language.

I know Deputy Farrell asked the question but I wonder why the Department decided to do that. How will it be beneficial to children? I know the witnesses spoke about other languages in the school. That is a divide and conquer issue, where we reduce our Irish language to accommodate another language. We are seeing that issue on our streets today. I welcome the framework that was published in March. What has been delivered under the framework since March?

Regarding the NCCA, I know my good friend, Dr. Hannagh McGinley, has done some incredible work relating to Traveller children and people from minority groups. I thank Dr. Hannagh McGinley for all her work. We have worked hard on the Traveller history and education Bill in this committee. It is unfortunate that our Government will collapse by the end of the week and that we will not have the opportunity to pass that Bill on Committee Stage. Would the NCCA still support that Bill after the establishment of a new Dáil? Would it lobby and campaign for the Bill to come back to committee? I am not saying the issue of Irish is the fault of any individual around the table. I compliment the witnesses on their work because it is difficult to work in a Department when one has little or no power. You could wallpaper this room with the policy and legislation that the witnesses have produced but there is a lack of implementation from the Government.

I have one more question about children with special additional needs. I have said numerous times at this committee that we continue to fail children with special needs in this country. As far as I know, last year, 126 children with additional needs had no school places. What can the mothers and fathers of Ireland and the Department do to make sure that every child has an opportunity to go to school? We are meant to treat every child equally but we do not treat members of the Traveller community, children from other ethnic minority groups and children with disabilities equally. Deputy Farrell spoke about reduced times, which brought to mind the reduced timetables for Traveller children and children with disabilities who are impacted by them.

I have given a few statements as well as asking a few questions. It is nothing personal. They are important questions for the Department.