Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State's response was a typical civil servant one rather than a response to what we said. He did not even consider what we said and I ask him to do so rather than what the civil servants are telling him about this in isolation. We face a situation where there is no all-Irish second level school for students from three primary schools.

In a short period of time, there will be an empty school in Maynooth which is entirely fit-for-purpose for the establishment of a second level all-Irish school. The civil servants are saying they might consider it in four years time if a need is proved. How can one prove a need if there is nowhere to show the need? Aonad will not show a need. We have the primary schools and the students who have said they want to continue in all-Irish setting. If we value the Irish language and its development and growth, we should deal with this situation now rather than in four years time. Without very much cost, we could establish an all-Irish school in Maynooth in an existing school building to cater for the three schools right beside it.

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