Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)

As I said, €405 million has been invested in Irish-medium schools in the past four years alone. It means there are now 248 Gaelscoileanna and 50 Gaelcholáistí across the country. I want to see that increase.

Work is currently under way in my Department to develop a new policy on Irish-medium education. This is outside of the Gaeltachtaí. A policy for the Gaeltacht was announced recently and by all accounts, it has had a positive impact. We want to build on that and put a similar structure in place. We have had a comprehensive public consultation process in this regard. A task force is due to be established under the policy to explore issues relating to the various different models of Irish-medium education provision. This will be a key element of supporting our programme for Government commitment to expand opportunities for students to attend Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí.

Specifically on the school, I acknowledge Deputies Heneghan and Ó Muirí and others who have campaigned and supported and done everything possible to make sure that this project can come to fruition. I hope I am there to be able to see it through and to make sure that commitment is followed through on. As of now, we are working on track and on time and I hope to be able to fulfil that.

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