A small extract from my contribution in the Dáil at the Joint committee on the Irish language, the Gaeltacht and the Islands.  The committee for the Ghaelcholáiste for a second level Irish school in Ballymun appeared before the Dáil committee to answer questions and outline their plans for a Ghaelcholáiste in Ballymun as well as a Gaeltacht quarter.

I said there is a hunger for the Irish language in Ballymun and surrounding areas.  There is a big demand for Irish schools in Ballymun as you can see for new Gael scoil Baile Munna in Coultry and also Scoil an tSeachtar Laoch for which there is a great demand.  I told the committee that 16 years ago there was no Irish School in Finglas and at that time there was also a hunger for the Irish Language in Finglas just like Ballymun.  Myself and Seán Ó Donaile the Principal of Scoil Naomh Barra were able to source a building which ultimately became the location for the new Irish School Gaelscoil Ui Earcain which has since grown and developed and is now situated in bigger premises at the former De La Salle school on Glasanaon Road.

Sliocht beag as mo chuid oibre sa Dáil ag an gComhchoiste ar an nGaeilge, an Ghaeltacht agus na hOileáin. Tháinig coiste an Ghaelcholáiste do scoil dara leibhéal Gaeilge i mBaile Munna os comhair choiste na Dála chun ceisteanna a fhreagairt agus a bpleananna do Ghaelcholáiste i mBaile Munna chomh maith le lár ionad Gaeltachta a leagan amach.

Dúirt mé go bhfuil ocras ar an nGaeilge i mBaile Munna agus sna ceantair máguaird. Tá éileamh mór ar scoileanna Gaeilge i mBaile Munna mar a fheiceann tú le Ghaelscoil nua Baile Munna i gCoultry agus Scoil an tSeachtar Laoch a bhfuil éileamh mór air. Dúirt mé leis an gcoiste nach raibh aon Scoil Gaelach 16 bliana ó shin i bhFionnghlas agus ag an am sin bhí ocras don nGaeilge i bhFionnghlas díreach cosúil le Baile Munna. Bhí mé féin agus Seán Ó Donaile, Príomhoide Scoil Naomh Barra, in ann foirgneamh a aimsiú a bhí mar shuíomh don Ghaelscoil Uí Earcain atá tar éis fás agus forbairt ó shin agus tá sí suite anois in foirgneamh níos mó in iar-scoil De La Salle ar Bhóthar Glas an Éin.

The annual report from the Mental Health Commission shows that there is a crisis in mental health services in this country. We need proper funding and resources so that decent and appropriate mental health services can be provided.
It is unacceptable that children under the age of 16 are still being placed in adult services.
Often the services that are available can be poor in quality or have variable standards.
Progress in improving these services has been very slow or has not happened at all.
The existing services are badly funded and they are not responding adequately to the needs either of the children or of their families.
This needs to be urgently addressed by government. There is no health without mental health.