Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
2790. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of pre-school services operating in the Gaeltacht; the number of these operating through the medium of Irish; the number of children registered with these services from September 2017; and the number that attended services that were provided through the medium of Irish. [33727/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIrish-medium early-years services in Gaeltacht areas play an important role in supporting children's language development in Irish and impacts on the use of Irish in the home. The Policy on Gaeltacht Education 2017-2022 states that there were 127 early years educational settings participating in the Early Childhood Care and Education Programme in the Gaeltacht
Comhar Naíonraí na Gaeltachta (CNNG) operates under the aegis of Údarás na Gaeltachta and supports the provision of early childhood education services through Irish in the Gaeltacht. CNNG provides administration support and training services for early years education and care services which include naíonraí, breakfast clubs, afterschool services and parent and toddler groups. During 2017, CNNG supported 96 services which catered for 1,368 children.
