Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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66. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the policy of her Department regarding the development of crèches and preschools in the Gaeltacht which operate through the medium of the Irish language; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43467/17]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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67. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the policy of her Department regarding the development of crèches and preschools inside and outside the Gaeltacht which operate through the medium of the Irish language; the discussions she has had on this matter with the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43466/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 67 together.

My Department recognises that there is a need to provide supports in the Gaeltacht, and throughout the country, in relation to Irish language needs in the early years sector. This will include appropriate education and training materials and resources for practitioners and services.

I established a subgroup of the Early Years Forum, which includes members from Comhar Naíonraí na Gaeltachta (CNNG), Gaeloideachas, Foras na Gaeilge, na Naonraí Gaelacha, the Department of Education and Skills (DES), the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (DCHG), Udarás na Gaeltachta and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA). This group has considered issues relating to Irish language issues generally and has fed the outcomes into the wider Early Years Forum. Consideration is now being given to the subgroup's recommendations within the context of the wider Early Years system.

In addition, officials from my Department are inputting to the preparation of the '5 Year Implementation Plan 2017-2022' under the '20 year strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030' in conjunction with colleagues from the Department of Culture Heritage and the Gaeltacht and the Department of Education and Skills.