Tá easpa soiléireachta an rialtais ó thaobh na scoileanna breise a bhí le bheith páirteach i Scéim na gCúntóirí Teanga don scoilbhliain reatha á cháineadh go géar ag Teachta Pearse Doherty.
Tagann na tráchtaireachtaí déanta ag Teachta Doherty sna sála ar fhreagra ar Cheist Dála a bhí tugtha ag an Aire Gaeltachta ina theip air gealltanas a thabhairt go gclúdófar na scoileanna breise a bhí fógartha ag an Rialtas mar chuid den scéim.
Deir Teachta Doherty “Mar is eol d’achan duine, tá uiríll á ndéanamh agamsa le dornán míonna anuas ar son scoileanna mar gheall ar na moilleanna tubaisteacha chun Scéim na gCúntóirí Teanga a sheachadhadh.
“Fógraíodh i lár mhí Mheán Fómhair go mbeidh trí scoil déag breise ann i mbliana mar ránnpháirtithe don scoilbhliain 2016/17- agus scoileanna i nDún na nGall, Pobalscoil na Rossan; Scoil Náisiúnta an Chéidigh; Scoil Náisiúnta Mhín na Gabhann; agus Scoil Náisiúnta an Bhrocaigh, ina measc.
“In ainneoin an fógra seo, b’éigean dom riar na scéime a chur os chomhair an Aire i nDíospóireacht sa Dáil mar bhí Cúntóirí fós le ceapadh do scoileanna agus iad ar tí dul ar bhriseadh lárthéarma.
“D’admhaigh an Aire go ndéarna sé faillí chun a chuid dualgaisí a chomhlíonadh ó thaobh na scéime agus na scoileanna breise a bhí le cur san áireamh, agus thoiligh sé go n-íocfar airgead riaracháin agus go mbeidh na socruithe sin curtha i bhfeidhm ar an toirt.
“Maidir leis na scoileanna breise a fógaraíodh mar rannpháirtaithe nua sa scéim, mhaígh an Aire go dtabharfar cuidiú do na scoileanna breise ach caithfear comhairle na Roinne a fháil chun a chinntiú gur scoileanna Gaeltachta iad agus go bhfuil siad ag múineadh trí mheán na Gaeilge sula ndéanfar é seo.
“Bheartaigh mé Ceist Dála a chur ar an Aire arís an tseachtain seo ina thaobh, agus d’fhiafraigh mé de cén dul chun cinn atá déanta ionas go mbeidh na cúintóirí in ann dul i mbun oibre sna scoileanna seo.
“Ar an drochuair, theip ar an Aire ina fhreagra gealltanas a thabhairt go gclúdófar na scoileanna breise, agus tá easpa soiléireachta fós ann maidir lena rannphairtíocht sa scéim.
“Is cás nairéach é seo agus, chan amháin sin, tá an Aire ag cliseadh ina dhualgas i leith na Gaeilge.”
Críoch
Uncertainty Continues to Surround Irish Language Assistance Scheme and Additional Schools – Doherty
Sinn Féin Finance Spokesperson Deputy Pearse Doherty has strongly condemned the Government over the lack of certainty surrounding the Irish Language Assistance scheme ‘Scéim na gCúntóirí Teanga’ for the current school year.
Deputy Doherty’s comments come following a reply to a Parliamentary Question from the Minister for the Gaeltacht in which he fails to to give a commitment that the additional schools which had been announced by the Government will now be covered as part of the scheme.
Deputy Doherty said:
“As everyone knows, I have been making representations on behalf of schools for some months now over the terrible delays to deliver the Scéim na gCúntóirí Teanga.
“Thirteen additional schools had been announced in the middle of September as participants for the academic year 2016/17- and schools in Donegal, namely Pobalscoil na Rossan; Scoil Náisiúnta an Chéidigh; Scoil Náisiúnta Mhín na Gabhann; agus Scoil Náisiúnta an Bhrocaigh, were also to be included.
“In spite of this announcement, I was forced to raise the administration of the scheme with the Minister during a Dáil debate as Assistants had yet to be appointed to schools which were due to go off on Midterm break.
“The Minister admitted that he failed to fulfil his duties in relation to the scheme and also in respect of the additional schools that were to be included, and he conceded that the administrative funding for the programme would be allocated and that these measures would be implemented immediately.
“Concerning the additional schools which had been announced as new participants, the Minister claimed that help would be provided to these extra schools however, advice would first have to be sought from the Department in order to clarify if these are Gaeltacht schools and that they are teaching through the medium of Irish before this could be done.
“This week I again decided to table a Dáil Question to the Minister on this issue, and I asked him to give details of the progress which had been made to enable Assistants to start work in these schools.
“Unfortunately, the Minister failed to give a commitment that these extra schools would be covered, and there is still a lack of clarity in relation to their participation in the scheme.
“This is a shameful situation and, not only that, but the Minister is failing in his duties with respect to the Irish language.”
