Concerns over lack of progress on all-Irish Mayo secondary school

A Mayo TD has raised concerns over the lack of progress on the provision of the approved all-Irish post-primary school in Castlebar.

Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh elaborated: "Recently, the Committee on the Irish Language, Gaeltacht and the Irish-speaking Community published a report that recommended that additional all-Irish post-primary schools be established across the country.

"I want the Minister for Education to look into why there is such a lack of progress regarding the application from Gaelcholáiste Mhaigh Eo i gCaisleán an Bharraigh.

"No response has been issued to the Gaelcholáiste Mhaigh Eo committee, despite the application being submitted in November."

The Erris-based Sinn Féin representative has also hit out over the fact is only one seat for Mayo on the board of Údarás na Gaeltachta , which is a 50% reduction on what was in place following the 2005 election.

She continued: "There is no representation at all for the west Mayo Gaeltacht of Oileán Acla, which is too small to have an impact on the Mayo constituency.

"All of this is being done to facilitate more ministerial appointments to Údarás na Gaeltachta. It is not right. We need democratic representation.

"My party's proposals would provide for two separate constituencies in County Mayo, that is three seats in total, with two seats to represent Erris in north Mayo, one seat for Oileán Acla in north Mayo and not forgetting Tuar Mhic Éadaigh.

"We need fairness here. I urge the minister to stand up for County Mayo and to adopt Sinn Féin's proposal to ensure fair representation for the Gaeltacht areas in our county.

"We are very proud and very dedicated to the Gaeltacht areas but we need to stand up and make sure democracy prevails there.

"The people living in the Gaeltacht deserve and expect nothing less."