Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)

The development of the gaelscoileanna sector has been one of the few positives in terms of the Irish language, even though we usually hear negative stories about the Irish language. Some 30,000 children attend gaelscoileanna, representing approximately 5% of the child population. According to a Foras na Gaeilge study, approximately 25% of parents would send their children to gaelscoileanna were any available to them. This is a significant issue. According to the English language media in particular, Irish is being forced on kids and parents. In reality, parents and children want more Irish language education. The Government is failing them and has previously stopped them receiving that education.

Many in the Irish language sector are struggling on a daily basis. They believe that, at best, the Government is oblivious to the Irish language as an issue or, at worst, is against the language and is rolling it back. Prior to the election, Fine Gael wanted to get rid of the Irish language as a core leaving certificate subject. Recently, Young Fine Gael repeated that call.

The Government does not seem to understand that this is an important issue. Given the research on the subject in recent years, there is a strong understanding that Irish as a spoken language has 15 or 16 years left. A couple of years ago there was an advertising campaign that read: "Ná lig dúinn a bheith inár nglúin dheireanach." Do not let this be the last generation of spoken Irish. The link could be broken.

The Government has a raft of opportunities. For example, there are a number of voluntary Irish language radio stations, but they have limited licences that prevent them from being professional and limit their geographical output. This situation could be changed. A number of mobile telephone licences are coming up for renewal. That the companies should provide customer service, Internet and billing services in the Irish language could be built into their new licences to provide for the 100,000 Irish speakers in line with their language rights. That would not cost the State anything.

The Government has a critical opportunity to allow 25% of schools to become gaelscoileanna in the context of the ongoing review of school patronage. This would allow approximately 150,000 children to voluntarily attend 700 gaelscoileanna, with a further 40,000 willing students pursuing secondary education lán-Gaelach. Such a reform would have a radical impact on the development and viability of the Irish language. I would like to hear the Government's plans for allowing this to happen.

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