Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
1393. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the funding, if any, that is provided to support childcare facilities, creches and pre-schools in providing Irish-medium services. [41267/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFunding provided by my Department for early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services are the same for both Irish and English-medium services.
Over the past seven budgets, investment in ELC and SAC services has risen significantly from €260 million in 2015, to €716 million in 2022. This excludes substantial funding provided to support the sector during the COVID-19 period.
There is much value in supporting the provision of services in the Irish language to children at an early age. ELC and SAC services play an important role here, in particular in promoting Irish as a living language.
My Department is working closely with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and the Department of Education to implement a comprehensive set of actions that were agreed as part of the 5 Year Action Plan for the Irish Language 2018-2022. These actions are designed to affirm the importance that ELC 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 ELC and SAC, and to further improve these supports and services.
In line with the commitments in the 5 Year Action Plan, my Department earlier this year appointed an Irish Medium Support Coordinator who has responsibility for coordinating the work to support the development and use of the Irish language in Irish medium ELC settings outside the Gaeltacht. This coordinator will guide recruitment for another Irish-medium early years specialist post in 2022.
My colleague, the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media provides additional supports for naíonraí in the Gaeltacht through her Department. More details on such opportunities may be available from that Department.
Government has provided significant investment in ELC and SAC in recent years and I intend to continue this trend with a view to reaching the First 5 commitment of investing of at least €1 billion in the sector by 2028.
