Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Ar an gcéad dul síos, tá a fhios agam agus aontaím leis an Teachta Ó Cuív, nach bhfuil cúrsa ar líne chomh héifeachtach agus turas go dtí an Ghaeltacht. Tuigim é sin. Bhí an phaindéim faoi lán seoil agus ní raibh an dara rogha againn. Is rud maith é deis mar sin a thabhairt do na daltaí. It was a good thing to provide an opportunity like that, but it is not ideal and it is not the intention to move forward with that. I have said it earlier in the day that the best provision is the in-person provision and experience in the Gaeltacht. I assure the Deputy on that.

Within the 20 year strategy there are nine aspects which impact on the Department of Education. We are hugely committed to implementing the strategy and advancing every aspect of the Gaeilge. The commitment of the Department is clear. There is now a dedicated Gaeltacht education unit within the Department. Continued progress has been made in terms of the implementation of the Gaeltacht education policy, including increasing the participation in the Gaeltacht school recognition scheme and the provision of additional supports for participating schools.

The e-hub project within the provision for Gaeltacht students is also an excellent opportunity to access online higher level leaving certificate physics. It is not ideal but, as I said to the previous Deputy, it is something we are working towards until we have sufficient teachers who are in a position to teach subjects of that niche area as Gaeilge. As I referenced earlier, we are currently in the throes of making provision for teachers who wish to upscale in a variety of subjects, including the Irish language, to give them the competencies they would require.

The commencement of two new Irish medium teacher education programmes was referenced earlier. There is a provision of a package of supports for five island post-primary schools and many others. We are enormously committed to advancing the strategy and supporting the growth of the Irish language. In terms of the naíonraí and the younger ones, an féidir le Treasa Kirk teacht isteach?