Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

221. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason his Department has not approved funding for a single teaching resource required to allow 29 children in the Sligo region the opportunity to receive the best possible primary education through their first national language of Irish as chosen by their parents; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the school in which these children are enrolled for the school year beginning September 2014 is a school (details supplied) in County Sligo, which is the only Gaelscoil in the county; that there are 59 children in total enrolled for the coming junior infants year, with school enrolment policy giving preference to siblings of existing or past pupils and as the school has presently only one teaching resource for junior infants class, this means that the choice of the parents of these 29 children cannot be catered for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24292/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department recently met with the Gaelscoil in question and conveyed approval for the commencement of a second junior infant class from September next. This decision took into account a detailed examination of existing and projected pupil enrolments in the area and also the demand for diversity of provision. The issue of the teaching resource required will also be dealt with by my Department, in direct consultation with the School Authorities.