Vol. 440 No. 1
171 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Education the present number of gaelscoileanna and naíonraí in the country; the plans, if any, she has for the further expansion of this sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
There are 69 Gaelscoileanna, which have been approved by my Department, operating in the State. My Department is fully committed to facilitating and supporting the establishment of Gaelscoileanna. Where a demand for such a school is demonstrated, and there is no alternative within a reasonable distance my Department, subject to certain conditions, will sanction a new Gaelscoil. Practical support for Gaelscoileanna is further demonstrated through the payment of increased capitation grants for pupils in these schools, allowing a more favourable pupil teacher ratio compared with ordinary primary school, and paying allowances to teachers who teach through Irish. Furthermore, my Department provides 100 per cent of the cost of site acquisition and the provision of new buildings or extension/renovations to existing building for Gaelscoileanna.
Naionraí do not come under the control of my Department and statistical data relating to them are not available within my Department.
