Joe O'Toole (Independent)

Cúpla uair i rith na bliana, dúirt mé leis an Leader gur chóir go mbeadh díospóireacht againn ar staid na Gaeilge agus polasaithe Ghaeilge. In particular I have pointed out the discrepancy between support for Gaeltacht schools and for gaelscoileanna or Irish schools outside of the Gaeltacht. Gaeltacht schools nowadays must invite in extra Irish teachers because there are so many children arriving at Gaeltacht schools who do not have Irish from home. They are being provided with Irish language classes at the beginning of the school day. At the same time, Irish language schools in the Galltacht, outside of the Gaeltacht areas, have a more advantageous retention ratio for teachers. This makes no sense. Ba chóir dúinn gach tacaíocht a thabhairt dos na scoileanna sna Gaeltachtaí chun a dhéanamh cinnte de go bhfuil gach seans acu an Ghaeilge a fhorbairt sna h-áiteanna sin. Ba chóir go mbeadh an seans céanna acu is atá ag na gaelscoileanna. Ba chóir don Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíochta nó an Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta teacht isteach anseo chun a mhíniú cén fáth nach bhfuil an seans céanna ag scoileanna sna Gaeltachtaí. Why is the same support structure not available to Gaeltacht schools as for Irish schools outside the Gaeltacht? It makes no sense. It might have made sense at a time when every child coming into a Gaeltacht school had Gaeilge ón gcliabhán acu. Ní mar sin atá an scéal a thuilleadh. Bíonn ar na múinteoirí an Ghaeilge a mhúineadh ó thosach do gach leanbh a thagann isteach. Ba chóir, mar sin, go mbeadh tacaíocht ann dóibh.

I also wish to raise another issue, which I have raised previously. It concerns the matter referred to by Senator Fitzgerald. Whatever about the party political issues that arise in this respect, I suggest in a non-political way that we need to know where we are going on this matter. Senator Fitzgerald made one point that goes without argument, which is that the Taoiseach should tell us exactly where this matter is going. I am speaking as someone who has been involved in the social partnership process over the years. There was much discussion about whether the social partnership process could continue in good times and if we needed it. I do not know what the answer to that question would have been, but it is certainly the only way forward at present. Social partnerships cannot bring this forward without a clear political decision. There must be political leadership in this regard. The Taoiseach must put his cards firmly on the table and outline the problem. He must also state whether he wants another national agreement as part of the solution or if he wants to go another way. Let us get the cards clearly on the table, however, and see the scale of the problem. Let us investigate and map the various options available to move our way out of it. Let us find the compromises and agreements within the social partnership model that will bring matters forward. There is no point in flagging stuff on the front pages of newspapers day after day with unions saying they will not agree to a pay freeze, employers saying we must have a pay freeze, and the Government saying nothing because Ministers are worried about their positions. Let us put the matter on the table in order that we can deal with the problem.

There is no problem that does not have a solution, but solutions will be found only when people are given the information in order that they can then chart the way to a solution. It is not rocket science, it just means assuming leadership, grasping the matter and moving forward. It also means putting responsibility and pressure on every group in the country and then finding a solution.