Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. Tá mé ag iarraidh stádas buan a fháil do Ghaelscoil Ros Eo, a bhunaíodh ceithre bhliain ó shin. Nuair a d'oscail an scoil, ní raibh ach rang amháin inti, ach tá 96 dalta sa scoil anois. Tá mé ag iarraidh stádas buan a bhaint amach don scoil faoi láthair. Is scoil iontach tábhachtach í Gaelscoil Ros Eo. Is dóigh liom go bhfuil sé thar am go mbeadh an stádas tugtha di.

I am asking that Gaelscoil Ros Eo be given the official status it deserves. It is four years in operation in the heart of Rush, which has a population of 8,000. The school started with only one classroom and its enrolment has since increased to 96 pupils, with a waiting list. My constituency of Dublin North includes four gaelscoileanna, three of which, I am pleased to say, are in permanent accommodation which was built in the past two and a half years. These are Gaelscoil Bhaile Brigín, Gaelscoil An Duinninigh in Kinsealy agus Gaelscoil Bhrian Bhoróimhe in Swords.

Gaelscoil Ros Eo cannot move any further until it receives official status. We are not expecting miracles, but it is in the gift of the Minister to progress the matter. I have been immensely impressed by all the gaelscoileanna in my area and throughout the country. I see the Minister of State nodding in agreement. It has been a blot on the record of successive Governments that gaelscoileanna such as this have been obliged to operate out of portakabins. Thankfully, that is, in the main, a thing of the past and I wish the Government well in the work that remains to be done.

Granting Gaelscoil Ros Eo official recognition will help it to grow further. It is certainly the wish of people in my Dáil cheantar that their children have the opportunity to be taught through the medium of the Irish language and to avail of all the benefits that go with it. I hope the Department will ensure official status is granted to Gaelscoil Ros Eo without further delay.