Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. Tá eolas agam anseo faoin gcineál maoinithe atá á fháil ag education and training boards, ETB-anna, i gcomparáid leis na scoileanna deonacha. Má bhreathnaímid ar an capitation standard rate, mar a thugtar air, tá difríocht ann. Tá €276 ag na scoileanna ETB agus tá €316 á fháil ag na scoileanna deonacha. Is rud eile é sin ón méid a bhí mé ag labhairt faoi maidir leis an €110.50.

Ansin tá siad ag fáil an €110.50, méid nach bhfuil na scoileanna ETB ag fáil mar go bhfuil deontas eile ar a dtugtar support services grant ann. Faigheann na scoileanna ETB €99 agus faigheann na scoileanna deonacha €224.50.

Ansin, tá liúntas eile agus is é sin liúntas dátheangach nuair atá suas go dtí ceithre ábhar á ndéanamh trí mheán na Gaeilge. Is é sin €22 mar rud amháin a fhaigheann na scoileanna deonacha agus nach bhfaigheann na scoileanna ETB. Tá go leor difríochta ansin, insím don Aire Stáit.

Cloisim go bhfuil an tAire Stáit ag breathnú ar pholasaí do scoileanna Gaeilge taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht ach sílim go gcaithfidh sí breathnú air seo nuair a bheidh sí ag breathnú air sin agus na scoileanna Gaeltachta a chlúdach ansin freisin.

I hear what the Minister of State is saying, but I am looking at the figures that have been provided to me. The capitation standard rate for ETB schools is €206, whereas for voluntary schools it is €316. Likewise, the support services grant is €99 and €224.50, respectively. There is also the €110.50 grant, or €22 per pupil per subject up to a maximum of four subjects taught through Irish.

At this point, these schools are being left in the ha'penny place. They are clearly crying out for this support. They have been raising this over recent years and it should be looked at.

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