Caít Keane (Fine Gael)

Ba mhaith liom ceist a chur ar an Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna mar gheall ar phlean atá aige chun scoil lan-Ghaeilge a thógáil i dtuaisceart Chill Dara. A particular patron has made an application to be patron of a new Gaelscoil in north Kildare. The Department of Education and Skills has sought expressions of interest for patronage of the new school, and An Coiste Bunaithe has twice made an application to be its patron but these have been ignored. It has not even been posted that it expressed interest. A total of 1,600 children attend Gaelscoil Uí Fhiaich in Maynooth, Scoil Uí Dhálaigh in Leixlip, Scoil Uí Riada in Kilcock and Gaelscoil na nÓg in Dunboyne and want to be taught through the medium of Irish.

The decision on patronage will be made on 24 February. Will the Leader ask the Minister for Education and Skills to say why the expression of interest has not been posted? The Minister has stated that parental demand for plurality and diversity will be taken into consideration in the establishment of any school and I agree with this. Parental preferences should be central to considering the type of school to be recognised. I call on the Minister to put his words into action and take into consideration the parents of these 1,600 children and the children. They want to express themselves in our native language but this is being ignored. Tá an cheist sin á cur agam inniu ar son na dtuismitheoirí agus na ndaltaí i dtuaisceart Chill Dara.