Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Cuireann sé an-áthas orm a bheith páirteach sa díospóireacht seo le linn Sheachtain na Gaeilge. Tugaim moladh don Dáil as ucht na díospóireachta seo a bheith ann agus deis a thabhairt dúinn ráiteas a dhéanamh faoi thábhacht na teanga agus staid na teanga inniu. Gabhaim mo bhuíochas leis an Dáil agus na daoine sa Dáil agus gabhaim mo chomhghairdeas leis na Teachtaí atá anseo inniu ag labhairt Gaeilge sa díospóireacht.

Ba mhaith liom mo chuid ama a chaitheamh ag caint faoi cheist an-tábhachtach i mo Dháilcheantar féin, ceist atá an-tábhachtach don tír freisin. Mar is eol do chuid de na daoine sa Dáil inniu, tá a lán Gaelscoileanna i mo Dháilcheantar féin, Cuan Bhaile Átha Cliath Theas. I mo bhaile féin, Raghnallach, tá dhá Ghaelscoil, Scoil Bhríde agus Gaelscoil Lios na nÓg. Chuala mé daoine ag caint faoi “An Cailín Ciúin”. Tháinig an cailín ciúin í féin as Scoil Bhríde i Raghnallach agus, mar is eol dúinn, tá an scannán sin ag dul go dtí na Stáit Aontaithe anois. Tá a lán Gaelscoileanna eile i mo Dháilcheantar. Cúpla bliain ó shin, d’oscail Gaelscoil eile darbh ainm Gaelscoil Eoin ar Bhóthar Haddington agus tá Scoil Mológa in Kimmage i mo Dháilcheantar freisin. In aice mo Dháilcheantar tá cúpla Gaelscoil eile, Gaelscoil Inse Chór agus Gaelscoil Laighean. Tá Gaelscoil nua ann freisin darbh ainm Bunscoil Synge agus is scoil spreagúil í. Tá páistí ó gach páirt den domhan ag dul chuig Bunscoil Synge ar Shráid Synge in aice linn. Tá inspioráid ann nuair a bhíonn tú ag dul síos Sráid Synge agus ag éisteacht leis na páistí ag caint as Gaeilge, ag súgradh as Gaeilge agus ag canadh as Gaeilge agus iad ó áiteanna ar fud an domhain. Tá sé an-speisialta ar fad.

Tá ceist ann, áfach, mar nach bhfuil aon Ghaelcholáiste ann agus mar sin ní féidir leis na daltaí sin dul go scoil lán-Ghaeilge tar éis na bunscoile. Tá a lán tuismitheoirí, múinteoirí agus polaiteoirí ag teacht le chéile agus ag iarraidh Gaelcholáiste nua a bhunú i mBaile Átha Cliath 2, 4, 6 nó 8. Cúpla seachtain ó shin, tháinig a lán díobh isteach ag Teach Laighean agus bhí cruinniú againn leis an Aire Oideachais. Bhí na tuismitheoirí agus na múinteoirí ann. Tá an feachtas ag fás agus tá súil agam go mbeidh Gaelcholáiste á bhunú i lár Bhaile Átha Cliath go luath. Ag féachaint ar na staitisticí, cé go bhfuil 44 iar-bhunscoil lán-Bhéarla sa scoilcheantar, ina bhfuil sé Ghaelscoil, níl aon Ghaelcholáiste ann. Fágann sin go mbíonn ar chuid mhaith daltaí a fhaigheann a mbunoideachas trí Ghaeilge freastal ar iar-bhunscoil lán-Bhéarla ina dhiaidh sin.

Cúpla bliain ó shin, tháinig tuairisc amach ón Roinn Oideachais ina raibh a lán eolas an-tábhachtach. Dá réir, ní dheachaigh ach 35% de na daltaí a bhí i rang a sé i nGaelscoileanna an Stáit i Meitheamh 2020 ar aghaidh go hiar-bhunscoil lán-Ghaeilge. I 21 contae as 26, téann níos lú ná leath de dhaltaí Gaelscoile ar aghaidh go hiar-bhunscoil lán-Ghaeilge, de réir figiúirí nua. Tá ag éirí go maith leis an bhfeachtas. Tá sé ag fás. Tá Conradh na Gaeilge ag tabhairt tacaíocht don fheachtas freisin. Tá mé féin agus a lán polaiteoirí eile ó gach páirtí ag tabhairt tacaíocht don fheachtas agus tá súil agam go mbeidh Gaelcholáiste nua i lár na cathrach an bhliain seo chugainn.

It is a great honour to speak in this debate. I have focused in my few words on the fact that there is huge interest in the Irish language in the constituency I represent, namely, Dublin Bay South. It may surprise colleagues from rural constituencies that in that small urban Dublin constituency there are at least six Gaelscoileanna, either in it or immediately adjacent to it. They are hugely popular with parents and students. In fact, many parents who were nervous about sending their children to a Gaelscoil because they do not have Irish themselves realise that children pick up the language with remarkable ease once they are enrolled in a bunscoil. Many of them fall passionately in love with the language. As I mentioned, there are great artists coming from those schools.

We are all referring to the example of "An Cailín Ciúin" who, as I said, came from Scoil Bhríde in Raghnallach. We need to look to see can we try to develop a Gaelcholáiste, a secondary school as Gaeilge. I am not even worried about the constituency, but it needs to be in that inner part of Dublin where there is huge demand for a secondary school. Unfortunately what happens is that at the end of their children's time in the bunscoil, there are very few options available for parents to avail of a secondary Gaelscoil in the constituency. That is an issue we need to focus on. I am conscious when listening to Deputy Smyth talking about the demand for more Gaelcholáistí, that obviously we should have more of them throughout the country. What is really improving the Irish language and what has given it great life, is younger people learning the language from a young age who have not been brought up with the hang-ups about it that many people of our age have about it because of the way it was taught in the past. It is inspirational to see what is happening in respect of Irish throughout the country but if we are committed to the language, we need to recognise, as is the case with many other issues in Ireland, that the route to success with Irish is through education. The bunscoileanna have been remarkably successful. I mentioned as well about Bunscoil Synge Street. It is a remarkable achievement. Sometimes allegations of elitism are made against bunscoileanna. I think it is extremely unfair. Parents are entitled to want to have their children brought up through the Irish language. If you go to schools like Bunscoil Synge Street, you will meet children from all over the world. There are migrants who have come to Ireland and are going to that school who speak the Irish language as well as any person in this Chamber can speak it. It is an inspiration to see. We need to recognise, cherish and protect the language but we also need to promote it through the education system. There is something happening in the Irish language in this country. It is becoming recognised not just that it is an essential part of our heritage, but the beauty of it is becoming apparent to people as well. I ask that we all, as politicians, try to support it as best we can.

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