Vol. 481 No. 6
24 Mrs. Barnes asked the Minister for Education and Science whether he has established a special unit within his Department to deal with gaelscoileanna; and the way in which it differs in size, functions and policies from the approach to the development of gaelscoileanna adopted previously. [16669/97]
I have not yet established such a unit. However, the "Action Programme for the Millennium", outlining the Government's support for the Irish language, provides for the establishment of a central facilities unit where suitable educational materials would be available as a support for learning Irish. A possible approach to addressing this issue is to provide or designate an education centre with a specific focus on services to schools providing education through Irish. This possibility is being examined at present.
I wish to place on record my commitment to promoting the Irish language and I intend to give effect to that commitment in the Education Bill which I hope to publish before the end of the year.
The Commission on School Accommodation Needs is at present examining the most appropriate criteria for the recognition and resourcing of national schools, including all-Irish schools. As part of its remit, the commission is carrying out a review of existing policies, structures and funding for this area in the course of preparing recommendations for submission to me. I expect to have these recommendations later this year. At that stage, I will have a more informed basis on which to consider the most appropriate arrangements for dealing with all-Irish schools.
