State 'failing' Tramore naíonraí
Náionra Philib Barún.
Waterford TD Conor McGuinness (Sinn Féin) raised the lack of funding for children attending Gaelscoil Philb Barún, Tramore, in a recent Dáil debate.
During the debate, he spoke about how students are learning in an old prefab.
Deputy McGuinness said: "The Government has failed and is continuing to fail to fund a proper building, seemingly because the naíonra, as the vast bulk of naíonraí do, serves ECCE-aged children.
"Naíonra Philib Barún has been at the heart of early years education in Tramore since 1983. It is rooted in the community and, as I alluded, affiliated with Gaelscoil Philib Barún, and it is central to the development of Irish-medium education in the town.
"Twenty-two children attend the naíonra daily. The service also includes a morning and an after school service for children attending Gaelscoil Philib Barún. It is operating out of a single room in an old prefab that has long passed its sell-by date."
He added: "If a naíonra like Naíonra Philib Barún, with its record, capacity, demand and a new site, which is ready to go, cannot access capital support from the Department, then who can?"
Minister of State Thomas Byrne said: "The programme for Government outlines a wider ambition to deliver an affordable, high-quality, accessible early childhood education and care system with State-led facilities adding capacity."
