Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)

With respect, if Government policy excludes a thriving, oversubscribed naíonra providing the only service of its type in a large urban catchment area, that already has secured a site and that has huge community backing, then the policy is not working and the prioritisation is not right. I ndáiríre, tá a fhios agam go bhfuil an tAire Stáit ag tabhairt na teachtaireachta seo thar ceann an Aire, an Teachta Foley, ach níor fhreagair sí an cheist sa mhéid sin. I understand the response is from the Minister and is not necessarily the response of the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, but it sidesteps the issue. In one breath, it says that Naíonra Philib Barún did not apply for funding, but in the previous line it says the naíonra would not qualify for it in the first place. Of course it did not apply for a fund for which it was categorically told it would not qualify. I thought I made my point clear: it is that the priority of the Department in regard to the scheme is wrong in that it excludes from funding facilities like Naíonra Philib Barún, other naíonraí and early years facilities that do not cater to one-year-olds and two-year-olds, but start at the ECCE starting age of two years and eight months upwards.

Níl ach cothromaíocht á lorg ag Naíonra Philip Barún. Is seirbhís ECCE a chuireann an naíonra seo ar fáil, mar a dúirt mé, a chuireann ar chumas na bpáistí foghlaim trí Ghaeilge agus a bheith in ann freastal ar an nGaelscoil máguaird. Tacaíonn sé le teaghlaigh áitiúla agus cuireann sé le líon na ndaltaí sa Ghaelscoil sa cheantar, chomh maith leis an nGaelcholáiste istigh i gCathair Phort Láirge atá taobh léi. Is dócha, mar Ghaeil, tá muid ag iarraidh go mbeidh daoine in ann freastal ar naíonra, Gaelscoil, Gaelcholáiste agus ollscoil trí mheán na Gaeilge. Muna bhfuil muid ag tacú leis sin, tá teip á déanamh ag an Rialtas.

The response reinforces the problem and shows the policy is inflexible and out of step with the real world needs. I welcome that the Minister is considering changing the policy. I ask that the message goes back very clearly that it must happen without further delay.

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