A naíonra (pronounced [ˈn̪ˠiːn̪ˠɾˠə]; plural: naíonraí) is an Irish medium playgroup for pre-school children, which follows the principle of Total Early Immersion.
[2] The staff of the naíonra seek to encourage the child's development "physically, intellectually, creatively, aesthetically, socially, emotionally and linguistically".
But in the Republic of Ireland a further change in 2003 would see An Comhchoiste Réamhscolaíochta replaced by two separate organisations in order to better focus efforts on Gaeltacht and non-Gaeltacht regions.
[4] In a controversial move by Foras na Gaeilge to concentrate the work of 19 Irish language organisations to six,[5] entitled An Samhail Nua Maoinithe,[6] FNT had their funding withdrawn in June 2015 and the overseeing and the development of Gaelic preschool care in Ireland was passed to Gaelscoileanna.
These organisations provide advice, training and grant aid to existing naíonraí and those interested in starting their own naíonra.