Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 38 together.

The five-year plan is not discriminatory against second level gaelcholáistí. I advise the Deputy that there are ten major building projects included in the five-year plan for post-primary schools delivering tuition through the medium of Irish. In June last year I announced a new process and criteria for the establishment of new second level schools. As part of this, an initial decision was to be made on whether the new schools would operate through the medium of Irish or English, having regard to existing and planned all-Irish provision at primary and second level in the areas concerned. Three of the 17 new post-primary schools to be established by 2014 will be gaelcholáistí. In addition, the five-year plan contains a further seven major projects for schools that provide for tuition through the medium of Irish. These projects will provide additional places to meet future demand for tuition through the medium of Irish as part of the overall five-year plan priority to meet demographic need.

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