Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Tá mé ríméadach an deis seo a fháil chun labhairt ar Sheachtain na Gaeilge. Níl mé líofa agus ní raibh mo chlann líofa sa Ghaeilge nuair a tógadh mé. Ceann de na cinntí is fearr a rinne mé ná mo pháistí a sheoladh chuig Gaelscoil. Sheol mé iad chuig Gaelscoil na Camóige i gCluain Dolcáin. Ní raibh an dara rogha agam ach an cúpla focal a phiocadh suas mar theastaigh uaim a fháil amach cad a bhí á rá ag mo pháistí. Táim buíoch chun an deis a bheith agam mo pháistí a sheoladh chuig Gaelscoile na Camóige. Anois tá ar Ghaelscoil na Camóige agus Gaelscoil Chluain Dolcáin foirgneamh nua a fháil, an chéad fhoirgneamh go deimhin. Ó d'fhág mé an scoil níos mó ná 30 bliain ó shin, tá na daltaí agus na muinteorí ón dá scoil ag foghlaim agus ag múineadh i bhfoirgneamh réamhdéanta. Níl sé sin ceart do mhuintir Chluain Dolcáin, do pháistí Chluain Dolcáin agus níl sé ceart don Ghaeilge, ár bpríomhteanga. Tá a fhios agam go mbeidh tógála ag tosú sa todhchaí ach, ag an am chéanna, tá an scoil ag fanacht leis an tender report a fháil. Níl pobal Chluain Dolcáin in ann fanacht níos faide. Tá mé ag iarraidh ar an Aire Stáit i láthair an topaic seo a ardú leis an tAire, an Teachta Foley, chun dul chun cinn ar an scoil tábhachtach seo.

The Minister of State can probably tell this is me doing my best to speak cúpla focail. Probably one of the best decisions I made as a parent was sending my children to Gaelscoil and the education they got there was second to none. My kids went to Gaelscoil na Camóige. They are all in secondary school now and one is in Australia. During the lifetime of that school, they have been in prefabs. The children going there now are still in prefabs. In Clondalkin, we have a chance to get two Gaelscoileanna and a secondary school on the one campus but there has been delay after delay. The latest is that they are waiting on a tender report before construction can start. I have been asked to raise this directly with the Minister of State. If he could raise it directly with the Minister, Deputy Foley, on behalf of Gaelscoil na Camóige I would very much appreciate it. I thank the Minister of State for taking the time today.

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