Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her comprehensive reply. This arose many times, as I said, in the Limerick and Clare ETB when I was chairman. One of the members was Dónal Ó hAiniféin. Thug sé sárthacaíocht don fheachtas chun neamhspleáchas a bhaint amach do bhaile na hInse agus don Ghaelcholáiste atá ann. Gaelcholáiste an Chláir opened in 1993 in order that children in Clare could receive their secondary education, including State examinations, through the medium of all Irish. The school, as I mentioned, operates as a unit, or aonad, of Ennis Community College. Everyone was delighted in 1993 when the unit began, but the founders always believed it would achieve independence within a matter of a few short years.

That was in 1993, more than 30 years ago. Séamus Ó Liatháin, who was chief executive of the then Clare vocational college and was one of those who led that campaign to found Gaelcholáiste an Chláir, was confident the Department would grant independence to this unit within a short period, around 1993 or 1994, but that never materialised. Sadly, despite everyone's efforts, in particular those of Dónal Ó hAiniféin, An Clár as Gaeilge and all the Irish movement people in the county, it still has not happened. We are still fighting for neamhspleáchas 30 years later and we would love if this could be reviewed by the Department.

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