Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 18 Jun 2003

Vol. 568 No. 6

Written Answers. - Child Care Services.

Dan Boyle

Question:

318 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the way in which naíonraí child development centres can be assisted by his Department; and if his attention has been drawn to the role they do and can play in the development of the Irish language. [17190/03]

Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Éamon Ó Cuív):

The Deputy will be aware that overall responsibility for policy development and the provision of services in the area of child care lies with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Under the equal opportunities child care programme, 2000-2006, funds of the order of €437 million have been provided with the overall objective of both improving the standard of child care services available, increasing the numbers of places available and co-ordinating development in the area of child care generally.

With regard to assistance for naíonraí, Foras na Gaeilge provides funding for Forbairt Naíonraí Teoranta, FNT, An Comhchoiste Réamhscolaíochta and Altram to provide various services in relation to naíonraí. In this jurisdiction, advisors are employed by An Comhchoiste Réamhscolaíochta to provide advice, facilities and training for directors of naíonraí. In 2002, An Comhchoiste Réamhscolaíochta provided €650,000 for naíonraí outside the Gaeltacht areas. Altram provides a similar range of supports in the North.

Foras na Gaeilge recognises pre-schooling in Irish as of critical importance to the revitalisation of the language. In addition to the funding it provides annually, Foras na Gaeilge plays an active part – alongside the naíonraí themselves – in An Comhchoiste Réamhscolaíochta.

In terms of the Gaeltacht, it may be noted that Údarás na Gaeltachta administers a scheme which subvents the running costs associated with naíonraí by way of an annual grant payable to eligible groups. This scheme provided funding of €327,552 in 2002, which was paid to 75 naíonraí and catered for approximately 1,000 children. It should also be noted that my Department offers small grants to naíonraí in Gaeltacht areas for the provision of equipment.

A number of studies on the influence of naíonraí have been completed in the recent past. The Institiúd Teangeolaíochta Éireann study "Early Immersion Education in Ireland – Na Naíonraí" in 1997 suggests that children whose first language is not Irish make significant advances in Irish during their period in the naíonra, which leads to increased use of Irish in the homes as well, as their parents try to help them in their efforts to acquire the language.