Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)

Some 27% of primary and 38% of secondary Irish-medium schools are on the waiting list for the refurbishment of buildings, yet they have not been included in the five-year plan. Without inclusion in the programme, many of these schools face an uncertain future. It is unacceptable that 60% of Irish-medium schools established in the past 25 years are in temporary accommodation. These are in addition to those schools that have secured permanent buildings but have since outgrown them.

I understand that inclusion in the building plan is based primarily on attendance numbers and populations. It seems to me that particular consideration should apply to the Irish medium sector, otherwise the system is inherently and systematically flawed and discriminatory against second level gaelscoileanna. The same argument could be made with regard to minority faith schools. This failure to include an adjusted criteria for Irish-medium sector education goes against the ethos of the 20-year strategy for the Irish language, which sets to defend the Irish-medium schools. The unsuitability of many gaelscoil buildings is a significant barrier which greatly restricts the growth of the schools and subsequently the expansion of the wider Irish language community.

We could give a number of examples, including Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh in Cnoc na Cathrach in Galway. It serves an expanding population and already accommodates 450 students and with improved facilities it could significantly increase its pupil intake. However, it is not included in the capital building programme. When the Minister of State, Deputy Cannon, was questioned on the matter, he stated there would need to be a new primary school east and west of Galway City, but he refused to clarify whether those new schools would cater for children wishing to be taught as Gaeilge. We need to take another look at the role of the gaelscoileanna in terms of the 20-year plan for the promotion of the Irish language. These schools are not the same as other schools. Their catchment areas are different and they do not have a 100% catchment population on which to draw. We need an adjustment of the criteria.

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