Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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423. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the supports that exist for naíonraí; and the estimated cost of increasing the supports by 5%. [53768/19]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I am conscious of the value of supporting the provision of services in the Irish language to children at an early age, and of the role pre-schools can play in promoting Irish as a living language. My Department provides many supports to facilitate Irish-medium early learning and care services to operate through Irish. 

In this regard my Department has collaborated with the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in agreeing a comprehensive set of actions under the 5 Year Action Plan for the Irish Language 2018-2022.  These actions are in support of the overarching 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030, and are designed to affirm the importance that early learning and care settings have in encouraging the development and revitalisation of the Irish language.  The aim of these actions is to build on the existing measures, supports and partnerships in place in the area of Irish-medium early learning and care, and to further improve these supports and services.

Furthermore, First 5, the ten year Whole-of Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families contains two actions specifically related to the provision of Irish language supports to the early learning and care sector. 

Training and materials for the Access and Inclusion Model that helps children with a disability to participate in the ECCE scheme are available through Irish.  Inspections operated by Tusla and the Department of Education are available through Irish, as are mentoring services from Better Start.

Communications in relation to the recently launched National Childcare Scheme are available in Irish, and Irish speaking support staff are available to answer parental and provider queries.

My Department does not target supports specifically at Irish medium early learning and care services, rather the many supports which are available are offered to all early learning and care services and naíonraí.