Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Bhain an dara ceist leis an straitéis atá againn. There are a number of aspects to that. It is práinneach. It is urgent agus táimid ag déanamh gach iarrachta chun é sin a chur chun cinn go tapa ach tá sé casta. For example, the Gaeltacht education policy has been completed. The next one we are working on is the Irish-medium policy outside the Gaeltacht. That will all be intrinsic to the overall strategy. That is being worked on. There are other elements as well, such as the implementation and expansion of the CLIL pilot project, as I referenced earlier, the delivery of the new primary language curriculum, the delivery of the new specifications in Irish at junior cycle and the upgrading and continuation of supports for the professional development service for teachers, PDST, for COGG and for the junior cycle for teachers, JCT, service and all of that. There is a phenomenal amount of work going on and I hear what the Deputy is saying about moving it as quickly as we possibly can.

The second policy I referenced there is the policy for Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht. We are anticipating that for September 2024. If it is within our power to do it faster and better than that, we will do it. I said this earlier but there has been a phenomenal engagement with it. More than 10,000 people engaged in this process. That in itself demands considerable time and work to analyse, out of respect, the thoughts and views that were expressed. It speaks very positively of the willingness for people to engage. We will move it as quickly as we can. It is urgent and a priority and it is important. Within our own Department, even coming out of the earlier Gaeltacht education policy, we now have a dedicated unit within our Department for Gaeltacht education. We are committed to moving things along. I hear what the Deputy is saying about moving them as quickly as we possibly can and I give him an undertaking that that is our absolute intention.