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

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit as an Saincheist seo a thógáil. Is Saincheist fíorthábhachtach í seo mar gheall go bhfuilimid ag breathnú ar chúram oideachais do pháistí óga sa Ghaeltacht. Táim cinnte go bhfuil sé arduithe agam leis an Aire cheana, ar ábhar éagsúil, an tábhacht a bhaineann le cinntiú go bhfuil seirbhísí ar fáil do cheantrachaí Gaeltachta. Is seirbhís luathoideachais atá i gceist anseo. Tá an t-ionad tacaíochta teaghlaigh ar an bhfód ó 2009 agus bhí deacrachtaí éagsúla aige. Tuigim go raibh rudaí nua agus cabhair nó tacaíocht ón Rialtas a bhain le cúram leanaí ach tá an t-ionad anois an-bhuartha go mbeidh air a chuid doirse a dhúnadh ag deireadh na míosa. Ar ndóigh, tá go leor teaghlaigh sa cheantar faoi bhrú uafásach dá bharr mar tá 120 páiste ag freastal ar an seirbhís seo go laethúil agus ní hé seo an chéad uair go raibh ar bhainisteoir an ionaid é a fhágáil. Léiríonn sé arís eile go gcaithfimid breathnú ar an íocaíocht a bhíonn á fáil ag daoine atá ag obair san earnáil seo ar an gcéad dul síos. Chomh maith le sin, caithfimid breathnú ar sheirbhísí sa Ghaeltacht ina iomláine chun a chinntiú go bhfuil an tacaíocht ann do dhaoine a bheith in ann obair sa Ghaeltacht. Más rud é gur ar an luathoideachas atáimid ag caint ar, nó ar an dara leibhéil nó pé rud é, caithfimid a chinntiú go bhfuil an tacaíocht sin ann. Tá sé sin fíorthábhachtach, ach go háirithe má táimid i ndáiríre go bhfuilimid ag iarraidh go mbeadh teaghlaigh óga in ann a gclann a thógáil sa Ghaeltacht. Ar ndóigh, tá deacrachtaí eile ann mar gheall go mbíonn ar na tuismitheoirí taisteal níos faide agus iad ag dul ag obair toisc go bhfuil siad ina gcónaí sa Ghaeltacht.

I thank the Minister of State for taking this Topical issue. This relates to an ionad tacaíochta teaghlaigh that has been open since 2009 and specifically deals with children from six months to 12 years of age and early education. I am sure the Minister of State has heard me speak about the issue of making sure that we have services in the Gaeltacht in the Chamber before. It looks like this service will have to close by the end of the month because the manager will be leaving and there are serious difficulties with recruitment. My colleague, Deputy Funchion, has long been raising the issue of ensuring there is adequate pay in the sector. I am fully aware of the things the Government has done in relation to childcare but I am deeply concerned about the impact this is having on the 120 children and their families who are dealing with this particular service every single day and the people working in it. To me, it is also about the services that are needed, whether in early years education or childcare. We see the same issues in secondary education, where it is harder to recruit in these Gaeltacht areas. If we are serious about maintaining the Irish language and people being able to raise these families in these areas, we need to address them. There is a deep concern now. The ionad has been on the go since 2009, but there have been issues continuously with managers having to leave. It is about providing supports for the early education sector.

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