Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As both Deputies noted, the Irish-medium provision in Ennis is currently provided by Gaelcholáiste an Chláir, which is an Irish-medium aonad within Ennis Community College. I welcome the level of enrolment in the aonad, at 116 students. It is fantastic that these students are taking up the opportunity to avail of their post-primary education through the medium of Irish. These students have benefited from the recently completed extension at Ennis Community College, which has provided excellent accommodation for all the students in the school community. There is capacity for further enrolment in the aonad, which is an important point. For the 2023-24 school year, 52 first year places were available in the aonad, for Irish-medium education, for which there were only 22 applications and only 16 accepted places. Those numbers are significant. A total of 52 places were available but only 22 pupils applied and only 16 accepted places in the aonad.

The Department has received correspondence, as outlined, from Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board proposing that Gaelcholáiste an Chláir become a stand-alone school.

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