Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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857. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of a cut in funding to a Naoinra (details supplied) in Dublin 13, including why the funding was cut; if she will increase the funding for this Naoinra; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5948/16]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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I understand that the Naíonra referred to by the Deputy is in receipt of current funding under the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme which is administered by my colleague Dr James Reilly, T.D., the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. I understand also that no cuts have been applied to the current funding rate for the ECCE programme.In this context, I should mention the role of Gaelscoileanna Teo. as the lead organisation in the Irish-medium Immersion Education and Preschool sector with effect from July 2014. Under that role, Gaelscoileanna is funded by Foras na Gaeilge to provide advice, assistance and support to people who wish to have their children educated through the medium of Irish, in addition to providing support services for those working in the sector.

Gaelscoileanna currently administers three schemes which provide funding for naíonraí. The Language Support Scheme supports naíonra staff and non-teaching school staff members who undertake training to improve their Irish language proficiency. Another scheme - Scéim Le Chéile Trí Ghaeilge – makes grantsavailable to naíonraí, Irish-medium schools and Gaeltacht schools to fund events through the medium of Irish. In the case of start-up naíonraí, a third scheme offers support to committees who are working to expand the provision of Irish-medium education at preschool level.