Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

It would be helpful for the Deputy Leader to ask the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn, to come to the House to give a statement on the schools building fund list announced on Monday. People in many schools are upset, angry and frustrated. They do not know why they were not granted funding when there was an expectation that they would, and they do not know why others were granted funding. There are questions such as whether the schools in question will now have to wait for five years for funding. What helpful advice can we now give these schools? In particular I am thinking of Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh in Knocknacarra, Maree national school in Oranmore, Clifden community school and many others throughout the country.

We had a very useful debate yesterday relating to Seachtain na Gaeilge and I, along with others, raised the issue of the cost of sending our children to the Gaeltacht. I have two children I would like to send to the Gaeltacht this summer and both would benefit from it. The cost will be at least €900 each, which is too expensive. I will now probably have to decide between which of the two children to send. I put the issue to the Minister yesterday, as did my colleague, Senator D'Arcy. Are there other creative ways of making the cost of the Gaeltacht more affordable to families at this time? I know it is the right way for children to learn Irish; it is the tumoideachas or immersion education. It is a way for children to get excitement, enjoyment and a love of the language. Is that not what we want? I would be delighted if, as a result of my call today, the likes of Conradh na Gaeilge, na mná tí and the Department would come together and make the Gaeltacht more affordable for our children.