Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Parents are concerned that they would have availability of childcare places locally and that they would not have to travel all over the country to get access to a naíonra, a Montessori or other such facilities. Populations are growing in different areas. Ballyvourney and Ballincollig, for example, are two fairly different scales. The Cluain Réidh housing development in Ballyvourney is now fully occupied and planning permission has been obtained for the building of additional houses behind Cúil na Carraige. This is on top of demand that was already there. Parents are keen to have the centre or a naíonra available to them. I put it to the Minister that the scale of the funding is too small. Is there going to be a targeting of funds to fit in with the Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge 2010-2030 to provide additional support for naíonra positions?

The situation in Ballincollig is on a much larger scale. There are 50 houses already occupied in Lisheen Woods. Murnane and O'Shea Limited is building 130 houses behind the Gaelscoil. The garden centre at Nano Nagle Place is occupied and the field across the way from it has planning approved. Clearly, there is much bigger growth and demand in that region and yet no spaces were approved over the last year. Will additional priority be given to places that have not received funding previously?

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