Sarah O'Reilly (Aontú) | Oireachtas source

Mar atá luaite ag daoine eile inniu, táim fíorbhuíoch as an deis a bheith agam inniu labhairt libh ar ábhar tábhachtach, is é sin, ceiliúradh agus cothú ár dteanga dhúchais. Tá an Ghaeilge luachmhar don ghlúin seo agus na glúnta atá romhainn. I gContae Mhuineacháin, tá traidisiún láidir de labhairt na Gaeilge atá cothaithe sa phobal ag teaghlaigh, Gaelscoileanna agus grúpaí mar Muineachán le Gaeilge. Tá an céatadán is mó daoine sa tír a labhraíonn Gaeilge gach lá agus a fhreastalaíonn ar Ghaelscoil i Muineachán.

I appreciate the opportunity to speak on such an important topic. As many others have shared today, the preservation and celebration of our national language is of the utmost value to current and future generations. In Monaghan, there is a beautiful tradition of speaking Irish that has been fostered by hard work on the ground and by families, Gaelscoileanna and groups like Muineachán Le Gaeilge. The county has the highest number of people who say they speak Irish on a daily basis, as well as the highest number of students in Irish-medium primary education. I encourage the Minister to look at the success in Monaghan and try to replicate this throughout every county in Ireland. There is an issue where children who attend Gaelscoileanna for primary education are then unable to continue on into secondary school due to a lack of capacity. We need to ensure enough teachers are being trained but also that there is availability of secondary level education so students are not forced to abandon their language once they leave primary school. Go raibh maith agaibh.