Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Tuesday, 21 October 2025
Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Irish-Speaking Community
Earcaíocht sa tSeirbhís Phoiblí: Plé (Atógáil)
2:00 am
Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Déanfaimid ár mbreithniú ar an ábhar earcaíocht sa tseirbhís phoiblí agus an t-oideachas atá de dhíth ina leith le hionadaithe thar cheann na Ranna Oideachais agus Óige, agus Breisoideachais agus Ardoideachais, Taighde, Nuálaíochta agus Eolaíochta. Fearaim fáilte leis na daoine seo ón Roinn Oideachais agus Óige: Gavan O'Leary, rúnaí cúnta; Tomás Ó Ruairc, rúnaí cúnta; Mark Bohan, príomhoifigeach beartas curaclaim agus measúnachta; Dermot Brown, príomhoifigeach bainistíocht maoine scoileanna; Mags Campbell, príomhoifigeach i seirbhísí corparáideacha; Brendan Doody, príomhoifigeach oideachas speisialta - aonad comhordaithe; Muireann Tóibín, príomhoifigeach san aonad um oideachas Gaeltachta; Ronan Kielt, príomhoifigeach cúnta i beartas curaclaim agus measúnachta; Stephen McGrath, príomhoifigeach cúnta i seirbhísí corparáideacha; Seán Ó hAdhmaill, príomhoifigeach cúnta san aonad Gaeilge um scoileanna meán-Bhéarla; an Dr. Treasa Kirk, príomhoifigeach cúnta sa Roinn Oideachais agus Óige; Patrick McCusker, oifigeach na Gaeilge i seirbhísí corparáideacha; Anne Tansey, ón tSeirbhís Náisiúnta Síceolaíochta Oideachais; agus ón Roinn Breisoideachais, Ardoideachais, Taighde, Nuálaíochta agus Eolaíochta: Keith Moynes, rúnaí cúnta; Jean O'Mahony, ceann an aonaid foghlaimeoirí ardoideachais agus an aonaid scileanna; agus an Dr. Alex Dowdall, príomhoifigeach cúnta san aonad foghlaimeoirí ardoideachais agus san aonad scileanna.
Cuirim ar an taifead go bhfuil na finnéithe go léir ag freastal ar an gcruinniú ó sheomra coiste 3, taobh istigh de phurláin Thithe an Oireachtais. Sula leanfaidh muid ar aghaidh, tá sé de dhualgas orm na rialacha agus na treoracha seo a leanas a leagan faoi bhráid na bhfinnéithe agus na gcomhaltaí uilig. Meabhraím dóibh a chinntiú go bhfuil a ngutháin shoghluaiste múchta le linn an chruinnithe mar is féidir leis na gléasanna sin a chur isteach ar an gcóras craolacháin, eagarthóireachta agus fuaime.
Tá an rogha ag comhaltaí freastal ar an gcruinniú go fisiciúil sa seomra coiste nó go fíorúil ar Microsoft Teams ar an gcoinníoll, i gcás cruinnithe phoiblí, gur óna n-oifigí i dTithe an Oireachtais a dhéantar sin. Is riachtanas bunreachtúil é sin. Nuair atá comhaltaí ag freastal óna n-oifigí, ba chóir go mbeadh a bhfíseáin ar siúl an t-am go léir agus iad le feiceáil ar an scáileán. Baineann an coinníoll seo le finnéithe freisin agus iad ag freastal ar an gcruinniú go fíorúil. Chomh maith leis sin, ba chóir dóibh a chinntiú go bhfuil na micreafóin múchta nuair nach bhfuil siad ag caint.
Cuirim ar aird na bhfinnéithe go bhfuil siad, de bhua Bhunreacht na hÉireann agus reachtaíochta araon, faoi chosaint ag lánphribhléid maidir leis an bhfianaise a thugann siad don chomhchoiste chomh fada is atá siad lonnaithe laistigh de phurláin Thithe an Oireachtais agus an fhianaise sin á tabhairt acu. Is fíric é nach féidir le finnéithe brath ar an gcosaint sin agus fianaise á tabhairt acu ó lasmuigh de phurláin Thithe an Oireachtais. Molaim d'fhinnéithe a bheith cúramach agus fianaise á tabhairt acu. Má ordaím dóibh éirí as an bhfianaise a thabhairt i leith ní áirithe, ní mór dóibh amhlaidh a dhéanamh láithreach. Ordaítear dóibh gan aon fhianaise a thabhairt nach fianaise í a bhaineann le hábhar na n-imeachtaí atá á bplé againn. Ba chóir dóibh a bheith ar an eolas go ndéanfar na ráitis tosaigh a chuir siad faoi bhráid an chomhchoiste a fhoilsiú ar shuíomh gréasáin an chomhchoiste tar éis an chruinnithe seo.
Iarrtar ar fhinnéithe agus ar chomhaltaí araon cleachtadh parlaiminte a urramú nár chóir, más féidir, daoine ná eintiteas a cháineadh ná líomhaintí a dhéanamh ina n-aghaidh ná tuairimí a thabhairt maidir leo ina ainm, ina hainm nó ina n-ainm ar shlí a bhféadfaí iad a aithint.
Chomh maith leis sin, iarrtar orthu gan aon rud a rá a d’fhéadfaí breathnú air mar ábhar díobhálach do dhea-chlú aon duine nó eintiteas. Mar sin, dá bhféadfaí a ráitis a bheith clúmhillteach do dhuine nó eintiteas aitheanta, ordóidh mé dóibh éirí as an ráiteas láithreach. Tá sé ríthábhachtach go ngéillfeadh siad leis an ordú sin láithreach. Bhí sé sin fada go leor. An nglactar leis na treoracha sin? Glactar.
Mr. Gavan O'Leary:
Gabhaim buíochas leis an gcoiste as an gcuireadh teacht inniu chun plé a dhéanamh ar earcaíocht sa tseirbhís phoiblí agus an t-oideachas atá de dhíth ina leith. Tá cur chun cinn na Gaeilge ar cheann de thosaíochtaí na Roinne Oideachais agus Óige, agus táimid buíoch as an deis an t-ábhar seo a phlé leis an gcoiste inniu. Is rúnaí cúnta mé sa Roinn. In éineacht liom ar maidin, tá mo chomhghleacaithe Tomás Ó Ruairc, Mark Bohan, an Dr. Treasa Kirk, Dermot Brown agus Muireann Tóibín. Tá ár gcomhghleacaithe ón Roinn Bhreisoideachais agus Ardoideachais, Taighde, Nuálaíochta agus Eolaíochta i láthair freisin.
Aithníonn an Roinn Oideachais agus Óige go bhfuil ról ríthábhachtach aici i ndáil leis an nGaeilge. Is é aidhm na Roinne i gcónaí feabhas a chur ar cháilíocht oideachas na Gaeilge i suímh Béarla agus i suímh Gaeilge araon. Tá ról lárnach ag soláthar oideachais in ardchaighdeán Gaeilge a bhaint amach ar fud ár gcóras scoile. Beidh sé mar thacaíocht don tseirbhís phoiblí a cuspóir, a chomhaontaigh an Rialtas, maidir le hearcú seirbhísigh phoiblí atá inniúil sa Ghaeilge a bhaint amach. Tá eagraíochtaí aonair freagrach as a mbeartais earcaíochta féin, is é sin, líon agus gráid na bhfostaithe a earcaíonn siad agus próifíl scileanna na ndaoine sin. Mar sin féin, aithnímid go mbraitheann infhaighteacht na ndaoine atá inniúil sa Ghaeilge i measc na n-earcach ionchasach ar chóras oideachais Gaeilge d'ardchaighdeáin a bheith ar fáil inár scoileanna. Déanann an Roinn infheistíocht shuntasach in oideachas na Gaeilge. Mar shampla, tá An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta, COGG, á mhaoiniú ag an Roinn. Freisin, mar chuid de struchtúr Oide, an tseirbhís tacaíochta do mhúinteoirí, cruthaíodh an rannóg GaelAonad. Tugann COGG agus GaelAonad tacaíocht luachmhar dár nGaelscoileanna agus scoileanna Gaeltachta agus do scoileanna Béarla maidir le múineadh na Gaeilge agus do na múinteoirí atá ag obair iontu.
Foilseofar beartas nua don oideachas trí mheán na Gaeilge lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht go luath mar aon le plean gníomhaíochta. Bhí comhairliúchán poiblí fairsing againn a chuir leanaí agus daoine óga, tuismitheoirí agus caomhnóirí, ceannairí scoile agus múinteoirí, agus páirtithe leasmhara oideachais agus Gaeilge go léir san áireamh. Chun a chinntiú go bhfuil oideachas d'ardchaighdeán ar fáil i suímh oideachais trí mheán na Gaeilge, beidh sé mar thosaíocht faoin mbeartas méadú a dhéanamh ar sholáthar múinteoirí a bhfuil na scileanna agus an inniúlacht teanga acu a theastaíonn chun múineadh go héifeachtach trí mheán na Gaeilge. Beidh mo chomhghleacaithe in ann níos mó a rá faoi na bealaí inar féidir soláthar oideachais trí mheán na Gaeilge a mhéadú.
Cuirfidh cur i bhfeidhm an bheartais nua don oideachas trí mheán na Gaeilge lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht leis an méid atá bainte amach sa Ghaeltacht faoin bpolasaí um oideachas Gaeltachta. Cuirtear tacaíochtaí ar fáil do scoileanna sa Ghaeltacht lena chinntiú gur féidir leo tumoideachas d'ardchaighdeán a sholáthar a thacaíonn le húsáid na Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht. Tá breis agus 120 scoil aitheanta go hoifigiúil anois mar scoileanna Gaeltachta faoin bpolasaí.
Maidir le tacaíochtaí do mhúineadh na Gaeilge i scoileanna Béarla, foilseoidh an tAire plean gníomhaíochta dhá-bhliain don Ghaeilge i scoileanna Béarla go luath. Tacóidh an plean le scoileanna sonraíochtaí curaclaim atá ann cheana a chur i bhfeidhm chun eispéireas foghlama níos fearr a sholáthar maidir leis an nGaeilge agus úsáid na Gaeilge a mhéadú i measc leanaí agus daoine óga.
Maidir le soláthar oideachais trí mheán na Gaeilge, tá méadú tagtha ar líon na scoileanna a chuireann Gaelscolaíocht ar fáil, ó 272 sa bhliain 2000 go 302 sa bhliain 2025. Idir 2020 agus Lúnasa 2025, rinne an Roinn infheistíocht chaipitil de thart ar €466 milliún i scoileanna a fheidhmíonn trí mheán na Gaeilge. De réir mar a dhéanaimid ár mbeartas a chur chun cinn, tá sé tábhachtach bealaí a fhiosrú inar féidir linn an soláthar d’oideachas trí mheán na Gaeilge a mhéadú. Tá na hullmhúcháin beagnach críochnaithe le haghaidh suirbhé ar thuismitheoirí agus caomhnóirí bunscoile go léir agus ar thuismitheoirí agus caomhnóirí leanaí nach bhfuil sa bhunscoil fós. Beidh an suirbhé dírithe ar roghanna i leith gnéithe tábhachtacha de sholáthar agus rogha scoileanna. Beidh ceist san áireamh sa suirbhé maidir le cibé acu is fearr leo, oideachas trí mheán na Gaeilge nó oideachas trí mheán an Bhéarla. Cabhróidh torthaí an tsuirbhé leis an Roinn pleanáil a dhéanamh ar an gcaoi a gcuirfimid oideachas bunscoile ar fáil amach anseo.
Is príomhchuspóir le baint amach é go mbeidh 20% d’earcaigh san earnáil phoiblí in ann seirbhísí a sholáthar trí mheán na Gaeilge faoi 2030. Mar chuid lárnach de na hiarrachtaí chun an sprioc sin a bhaint amach, tá plean náisiúnta um sheirbhísí poiblí Gaeilge. Cuireann an plean treochlár ar fáil don earnáil phoiblí trína bhféadfaí féachaint de réir a chéile le líon agus cáilíocht na seirbhísí poiblí a sholáthraíonn siad don phobal trí mheán na Gaeilge a mhéadú. Tá ionadaíocht ag an Roinn ar an gcoiste comhairleach um sheirbhísí Gaeilge agus tá sí tar éis cur leis an bplean gníomhaíochta. Beidh na beartais, na tacaíochtaí agus na tionscnaimh ar fad a phléifear ar maidin ina mbunchloch ríthábhachtach agus muid ag féachaint ar bhealaí inar féidir an Ghaeilge a neartú tuilleadh ar fud an chórais oideachais, chun tacú leis an Státseirbhís agus an tseirbhís phoiblí sna gealltanais.
Mr. Keith Moynes:
Beidh mé ag labhairt i mBéarla. I thank the committee for the invitation to attend today with my colleagues to discuss how the education sector can support the achievement of targets for public service recruitment through Irish. Higher and further education supports are a crucial part of the wider continuum of education supporting language skills, which extends from primary level to post-primary, tertiary education, lifelong learning and workplace upskilling and reskilling. The education sector as a whole plays an important role within the context of the Official Languages Act and the resulting national plan for Irish language public services. As part of cross-government efforts, the education and training provided by our universities and FET colleges will support the skills pipeline that will be an important part of the delivery of the Act’s objective that 20% of recruits to the public sector be proficient in Irish by 2030.
The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has a well-established policy to support the Irish language in our tertiary education sector both as an academic discipline and as a campus language. This policy is rooted in the core principle of academic autonomy, which allows institutions to respond to the needs of their communities and regions and also to national priorities, including those set out in legislation. The legislation that governs our sector, including the Universities Act 1997 and the Higher Education Authority Act 2022, also makes specific provision for the Irish language and clearly sets out the obligations of the agency and the higher education institutions in promoting the language. Furthermore, this Department allocates specific ring-fenced funding to a range of initiatives that support the teaching and use of Irish on college campuses. These include a dedicated annual allocation of €900,000 to support and strengthen the use of Irish among students and staff; dedicated funding of €1.76 million to the University of Galway to support the work of Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge; and funding for the Gníomhaí Gaeilge mentoring and awards scheme. The teaching of Irish has also been supported through the numerous policy mechanisms this Department has developed in recent years aimed at ensuring our education sector can respond in an agile way to emerging skills needs. This includes the introduction of dedicated Irish language opportunities through apprenticeship and microcredentials.
However, it is the view of our Minister that more can and must be done to support the use of Irish and the provision of Irish-medium programmes, particularly in the context of the 20% target for public service recruitment. He made this clear as recently as last week while answering parliamentary questions in the Dáil when he outlined how this Department is actively engaging across government to support the teaching and learning of Irish at third level. It is vital to say that this work is done in a joined-up way and on a cross-government basis in a way that is aligned with the objectives of the national plan for Irish language public services. To this end, officials from this Department are actively engaging across government to progress this work, and we have a number of relevant actions under way. Our approach is informed by approaches we have taken in the past where we have identified gaps and lacunae where we needed to do more to meet skills needs.
First, we are working with our colleagues from the Department of Education and Youth to examine the transition of students from Irish-language post-primary to tertiary level. Second, we will examine what models of delivery can best contribute to meeting public sector targets. We are working closely with the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to establish a sectoral working group to examine how tertiary education can best contribute to public service language targets. Third, we will support the undertaking of specific research to better understand existing patterns of demand and potential future demand for Irish language education at tertiary level. Fourth, the Department will examine the inclusion of Irish-medium courses when seeking future expressions of interest from providers to expand provision in areas of national skills need, including in the healthcare sector. Fifth, the forthcoming national tertiary strategy, which will set out the objectives and outputs for the further and higher education system, will have specific regard to the sustainability, promotion and use of the Irish language.
While this planning and co-ordination work progresses, the tertiary sector, which is responsive to emerging skills needs, is already pivoting to address Irish language requirements in ways that are explicitly referenced in the national plan. An Irish-language stream is in development as part of the new business and operations apprenticeship. This will specifically target public sector recruitment at the executive officer level, which is a very important recruitment grade in the Civil Service. A range of microcredentials have been developed in Irish, including qualifications in professional Irish. In the FET sector, the Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim ETB has established new courses in professional Irish at levels 3, 4, 5 and 6. Although we acknowledge that there is much work still to be done, these initiatives demonstrate how the Department, in partnership with the sector, is responding to critical skills needs.
I again thank the committee for the opportunity to speak today. We look forward to engaging with any questions members have.
Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Gabhaim buíochas as na ráitis tosaigh sin. Sula dtosaímid le ceisteanna, tá an t-uafás ráite ag an Roinn oideachais faoi phleananna atá le teacht. Tá a fhios agam go dtiocfaidh an beartas nua um oideachas trí mheán na Gaeilge go luath. Cathain a thiocfaidh sé? Tá an plean gníomhaíochta don Ghaeilge sna scoileanna Béarla le teacht go luath. Cathain? Tá an suirbhé do thuismitheoirí agus caomhnóirí le teacht go luath. Cathain? Beidh ceisteanna ag gach duine anseo faoi na hamanna agus cathain a tharlóidh na nithe seo. Leis na ráitis seo, tá sé tábhachtach go bhfaighimis amchlár éigin. Bogfaidh mé ar aghaidh leis na ceisteanna. Ar dtús báire, glaoim ar an Teachta Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh.
Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis na finnéithe ar fad as a bheith anseo. Tá mórán le plé so tosóidh mé láithreach. Daichead bhliain ó shin, bhí ar mo mhamaí féin seacht mbus a fháil in aghaidh an lae chun mo dheartháir a chuir chuig scoil lán-Ghaeilge toisc nach raibh ceann sa cheantar. Deich mbliana ina dhiaidh sin, d'éirigh linn bunscoil Ghaeilge a fháil i mo cheantar i mBaile Átha Cliath ach, deich mbliana i ndiaidh é sin, bhí ar mo thuismitheoirí feachtas agus agóid a dhéanamh arís chun áit a fháil i nGaelcholáiste dom. Tar éis troid fhada, d'éirigh liom spás a fháil. Bhí an t-éileamh chomh mór sin nach raibh an scoil ag glacadh le páistí ó lasmuigh den cheantar. Sa lá atá inniu ann, 40 bhliain níos déanaí, tá na fadhbanna céanna againn. Tá an t-éileamh ann ach níl a dhóthain bunscoileanna.
Má táimid chun a bheith dáiríre faoin sprioc 20% sin a bhaint amach, caithfimid tosú ón tús leis an luathoideachas ar aghaidh go dtí an tríú leibhéal. I mo dháilcheantar féin, labhair mé le príomhoide cúpla lá ó shin. Tá an líon páistí ar an liosta feithimh dhá oiread níos mó ná an líon spásanna sa scoil. Tá an t-éileamh ann. Tá Naíonra Uí Shionnaigh againn i mbaile Chill Dara. Níl ach dhá naíonra i mo dháilcheantar ar fad. Táimid ar tí Naíonra Uí Shionnaigh a chailleadh toisc nach bhfuil aon tacaíochtaí ann dó. Tá mé tar éis é seo a phlé sa Dáil cúpla uair. Níl an tacaíocht ann agus beidh an naíonra caillte againn. Sa ráiteas tosaigh, dúradh go bhfuil "cur chun cinn na Gaeilge ar cheann de thosaíochtaí na Roinne Oideachais agus Óige" ach ní fheicim é seo mar tá na fadhbanna céanna fós againn 40 bhliain tar éis mo thuismitheoirí féin a bheith ag déileáil leo.
Cúpla seachtain ó shin, chonaic muid go bhfuil 30 nóiméad bainte ó mhúineadh na Gaeilge sa churaclam bunscoile. Tá easpa Gaelcholáistí. Tá páistí ag freastal ar bhunscoil Ghaeilge ach níl an deis acu freastal ar Ghaelcholáiste chun leanúint ar aghaidh leis an oideachas trí mheán na Gaeilge. Níl Gaelcholáiste fiú i ngach contae sa tír seo go fóill. Feicfimid an líon díolúintí atá tugtha amach, a d'éirigh ó bhreis agus 33,000 in 2019 go dtí breis agus 55,000. Tá sé seo pléite againn cheana agus dúradh go raibh an-chuid daoine ag teacht ó thíortha eile. Tá a fhios againn go léir sa seomra sin nach é seo cúis na ndíolúintí seo. Ní hionann deacrachtaí foghlama ná riachtanais bhreise agus gan a bheith in ann teanga eile a fhoghlaim. Deir an Roinn go n-aithníonn sí an ról ríthábhachtach atá aici i ndáil leis an nGaeilge. Chun an sprioc seo a bhaint amach, caithfimid a bheith dáiríre ón luathoideachas ar aghaidh. There is no need to reinvent the wheel. Ní ga dúinn ach breathnú béal dorais ar an mBreatain Bheag agus an dul chun cinn atá déanta ansin. Tá easpa measa agus easpa infheistíochta ag an Roinn. Tá sé soiléir go bhfuil athrú meoin ag teastáil ón mbarr ionas gur féidir linn dul i ngleic leis sin.
Cad atá ar bun ag an Roinn chun dul i ngleic leis na fadhbanna seo ar fad? Cén fáth nach mbeadh gach bunscoil nua a thógfar ón bpointe seo ar aghaidh ina Gaelscoil? Cén fáth nach mbeadh an tumoideachas agus múineadh trí mheán na Gaeilge riachtanach ó naíonáin bheaga ar aghaidh go dtí rang 1 nó rang 2 i ngach scoil sa tír? Tá an-chuid gur féidir linn a dhéanamh ach ní fheicim go bhfuil aon dul chun cinn á dhéanamh ag an Roinn mar tá an plé seo ag tarlú arís agus arís eile. Cá bhfuil an fhís?
Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Tógfaidh mé roinnt ceisteanna ar dtús báire má tá sé sin all right.
Naoise Ó Muirí (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis na finnéithe as na ráitis. Ó thaobh na ndíolúintí de, tá sé sin ardaithe cheana féin ach céard é dearcadh soiléir na Roinne ar na díolúintí? Ó na huimhreacha, feicimid go bhfuil an líon ag ardú an t-am ar fad. Is é 20,000 an uimhir atá againn. Is é sin an uimhir is mó a chonaic muid le gairid. Tá díolúintí á gcur ar fáil do dhaltaí atá ag teacht ó thíortha eile. Tuigim é sin ach tá siad ag déanamh staidéir ar theangacha eile, an Ghearmáinis nó an Fhraincis, mar shampla, ach ag fáil díolúine ó staidéar na Gaeilge. Cén dearcadh atá ag an Roinn ar cheist na ndíolúintí? An bhfuil sé ag dul sa treo ceart? An bhfuil fadhb leo? Cén sórt athrú atá ag teastáil leis an gceist sin a réiteach. Go bunúsach, cén dearcadh atá ag an Roinn ar dhíolúintí? Tá ceisteanna eile agam ach tiocfaidh mé ar ais chucu.
Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Tá sé sin togha. Tuigim go bhfuil dhá Roinn anseo. Tá sé deacair ceisteanna a chur ar an Roinn oideachais agus ar an Roinn ardoideachais ag an am céanna. Is féidir linn teacht ar ais chun ceisteanna a chur ar an Roinn ardoideachais má tá sé sin ag teastáil ó na comhaltaí. Bogfaidh mé ar aghaidh go dtí an Seanadóir Evanne Ní Chuilinn. Tiocfaimid ar ais i gcomhair freagraí ansin.
Evanne Ní Chuilinn (Fine Gael)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis na finnéithe ar fad as teacht isteach. Is dóigh liom go bhfuil téama ag tosú sa chruinniú seo mar teastaíonn uaim ceist na ndíolúintí a ardú freisin. Tá líon na ndíolúintí ag ardú. Tá sprioc againn agus ag na Ranna i leith seirbhísí a chur ar fáil trí mheán na Gaeilge ó 2030 ach ní dóigh liom go mbeidh na Gaeilgeoirí ann má leanann na figiúirí mar atá siad. Ní aontaím leis an dearcadh nach bhfuil sé ar chumas daoine ó thíortha eile an Ghaeilge a fhoghlaim, go mór mór sa bhunscoil, sa naíonra nó sa naíolann. Is é an phríomhcheist eile atá agam ná cá bhfuilimid le naíolanna Gaeilge. Cá bhfuilimid leis na creiseanna atá ag feidhmiú trí mheán na Gaeilge? Is dóigh liom gurb é seo an chéad chéim eile leis an oideachas.
Mr. Gavan O'Leary:
Gabhaim buíochas leis na baill den choiste. Iarrfaidh mé ar Thomás Ó Ruairc labhairt faoi amchlár i leith na mbeartas sin. Mar a dúirt an Leas-Chathaoirleach, tá sé sin tábhachtach do gach duine. Maidir leis na díolúintí, iarrfaidh mé ar Mark Bohan cúpla focal a rá chun a mhíniú cad atá ag titim amach. Ansin, iarrfaidh mé ar Dermot Brown labhairt ar líon na nGaelcholáistí, líon na nGaelscoileanna agus an córas atá i bhfeidhm. Níl a lán staitisticí againn faoi na naíonraí toisc go dtagann an cheist seo faoin Roinn Leanaí, Míchumais agus Comhionannais. Tuigimid go bhfuil continuum ann ach tá an Roinn sin i gceannas air sin. Tá na figiúirí aici. Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil taighde á dhéanamh aici maidir le líon na naíonraí agus cad atá ag titim amach iontu.
Ar dtús, más féidir liom, iarraim ar Thomás Ó Ruairc teacht isteach.
Mr. Tomás Ó Ruairc:
Díreoidh mé ar cheisteanna an Teachta Ní Raghallaigh, má tá sé sin ceart go leor. Is dócha go mbaineann a cuid ceisteanna le mo réimse den chuid is mó. Chríochnaigh sí leis an gceist dhúshlánach sin maidir le cá bhfuil an fhís anseo. Ar an gcéad dul síos, leis an bpolasaí um oideachas Gaeltachta, aithnítear trasna an bhoird, i measc na bpáirtithe leasmhara, na n-eagraíochtaí agus an chórais, go bhfuil ag éirí thar cionn leis an bpolasaí sin ó thaobh físe agus spiorad pobail de. Cuir i gcás, tá ag éirí leis an bpolasaí an Ghaeilge a dhaingniú mar mheán teagaisc sna scoileanna sin. Mar a dúirt mo chomhghleacaí, Keith Moynes, níos túisce, tá tuilleadh le déanamh i gcónaí le cur le tacaíocht mar sin. Is sampla an-choincréiteach é sin d’fhís na Roinne agus an chaoi ar féidir agus ar cheart dúinn chomhoibriú leis na páirtithe leasmhara agus chuile dhuine leis an bhfís sin a bhaint amach.
Ag díriú ar shonraí na ceiste, leag Keith Moynes an-tábhacht ar chomhoibriú trasna an chórais. Mar a dúirt mo chomhghleacaí, Gavan O’Leary, faoin luathoideachas ag baint go díreach linne, in ainneoin sin, mar a luaigh Keith Moynes níos túisce chomh maith, tá ionadaíocht ag na Ranna éagsúla ar choistí stiúrtha a bhaineann leis na polasaithe éagsúla. Cé go bhfuil Roinn na leanaí ag díriú go sonrach ar an bpolasaí atá aici d’oideachas lán-Ghaeilge san earnáil sin, tá sí ag comhoibriú go dlúth linn, agus a mhalairt, le cinntiú go mbeidh na polasaithe go léir ag ailíniú le chéile. Tá sé mar an gcéanna leis an Roinn ardoideachais agus breisoideachais.
Caithfear aithint chomh maith go bhfuil fás tar éis teacht ar líon na scoileanna le scór bliain anuas agus líon absalóideach na ndaltaí. Ní fás chomh mór é is a thaitheoidh le gach duine. Tuigim é sin, ach tá fás tar éis teacht ar an earnáil. Caithfear admháil chomh maith go bhfuil céatadán na scoláirí atá ag freastal ar an nGaelscolaíocht tar éis fanacht seasta go leor. In ainneoin an fháis sin sna huimhreacha, tá an céatadán réasúnta seasta le cúpla bliain anuas. Chomh maith leis sin, tá a fhios againn ónár gcuid taighde, sa bhliain acadúil dheireanach, tháinig thart ar 19% de na scoláirí atá sa chéad bhliain sna scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge ó bhunscoileanna lán-Bhéarla. Caithfear é sin a thógáil san áireamh chomh maith maidir leis na deiseanna fáis sin.
Má bhreathnaíonn muid ar mhúnla eile, ní féidir liom mórán a rá, mar a thuigfidh an coiste, faoi dhintiúir an pholasaí don oideachas lán-Ghaeilge a bheidh ag teachta amach go luath, ná faoin phlean gnímh. Is féidir a dheimhniú go cinnte go raibh an-taighde déanta mar chuid den dá phíosa oibre sin. Faoi mar is eol don choiste, rinne SEALBHÚ an taighde dúinn don pholasaí um oideachas Gaeltachta. Bhí sé lárnach san obair thaighde don pholasaí um oideachas lán-Ghaeilge agus don phlean gnímh. Bhí sraitheanna eile ó thaobh taighde de chomh maith ó thaobh na bpobal agus scoileanna pobail de chomh maith.
Ó thaobh ama de, tá súil againn le dintiúr a fhógairt faoi theorainn an dhá phíosa oibre an tseachtain seo. Dúirt an tAire go poiblí an tseachtain seo chaite go rún aici iad a sheoladh go luath. Tá súil againn leis an deimhniú sin roimh dheireadh na seachtaine seo.
Mr. Dermot Brown:
With regard to the Deputy’s question, since 2019, we have been prioritising Irish with any new schools. The patronage process has weighting towards the Irish-medium provision. Five new primary schools have been established since 2020, and they have all been Gaelscoileanna. Unfortunately, because of the demographic decline within the State, we are not opening new schools. That is why we are looking at the likes of the survey which we will be conducting soon. It will look at the current school estate and canvass parents as to their interest in the school becoming a Gaelscoil.
At post-primary level, we have introduced a couple of different methodologies. We have a pilot project running in a satellite school in Dundalk. It is a pilot of a school in Balbriggan. It is kind of an expansion of the aonad method. It is a different type of delivery. That is being delivered by An Foras Pátrúnachta. It is in its third year of a five-year project.
Was there another question to be answered?
Mr. Dermot Brown:
When we open a new secondary school, it is generally for between 600 and 1,000 pupils, but we have a lower threshold for any Gaelcholáiste, which is 400. As I said, the demographic decline has meant that we are not opening new schools. We are looking at new processes, such as the project that we are doing in Synge Street where a current English-medium school will become a Gaelcholáiste. It is a combination of that work. We will also look at a working group to examine these methods to identify those that are delivering the best for the Irish-medium provision.
Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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Maidir leis an aonad-----
Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Ní féidir leis an Teachta teacht ar ais isteach. Okay, is féidir léi ceist amháin sciobtha a chur.
Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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Maidir leis an scéim phíolótach sin agus an t-aonad i scoil Bhéarla, an t-aonad Gaeilge é nó an rud nua é? Ní thuigim an freagra.
Mr. Dermot Brown:
There is a Gaelcholáiste in Balbriggan which has a satellite school in Dundalk. It replaced the aonad that was there, which was not successful. The satellite school has a stronger status. It is a stand-alone school. At the moment, its forecast is that it may double its numbers this year. We are working closely with the patronage, which is An Foras Pátrúnachta, to double the numbers in that school this year. It is a new method that we are trying. It is a stand-alone school on its own, unlike the aonaid which are attached directly to another school.
Mr. Mark Bohan:
I will be speaking in English as well and I will deal with the issue of exemptions, which has been raised by a number of people. Over the years, there have been a number of revisions to the exemption system. It was largely informed most recently by an inspectorate review that was published in 2019 that resulted in new circulars. They were then also reviewed and published in 2022. People have mentioned two main categories. The first is students aged 12 and above coming to Ireland from abroad. To clarify, it is only for people aged 12 and over. It is largely a post-primary exemption. It does not apply at earlier stages. The second category consists of students who have an attested significant and persistent additional need.
Ultimately, it is school management that holds the authority to grant the exemption, ensuring that the criteria have been met. While the number of exemptions has been increasing, it is still at approximately 14%. Obviously, some 86% of the schoolgoing population do not have an exemption at present. While the numbers have been increasing, there is a context to them. It has been mentioned that there has been a significant increase in the school population in recent years, particularly at post-primary level, from 362,000 to 425,000. A significant number of Ukrainian students have also entered the system in the past few years, including 7,000 at post-primary level.
A lot of data shows that the number of students who have more complex special educational needs is increasing. We have almost 1,700 new special classes over the past five years. Specialist school enrolments are increasing by approximately 300 every year. Almost 28,000 students with special educational needs are enrolled in special classes and special schools. They are a significant factor in terms of the exemptions.
The issue of foreign languages is something that is often raised. A total of 19,000 students at post-primary level who have an exemption study French, German or Spanish. Of those, around 10,000 are at junior cycle, 4,000 at transition year and 4,000 at senior cycle. There is a drop-off in the numbers. Only 25% continue to study a foreign language to leaving certificate level as the demanded difficulty increases over the years. Foreign languages themselves are not core curricular subjects and they are not necessarily available in every school. Some schools, however, will require students to do a foreign language. As there is no exemption system available for such subjects, they have to study it, if that is the situation. Foreign languages are not ab initio with the junior cycle either, unlike Irish where the curriculum assumes students have gone through eight years of primary level and have an existing level before moving on to the post-primary level.
Earlier, my colleagues mentioned the two-year plan for Irish- and English-medium schools. The aim of this plan is to provide a better learning experience of Irish and increase the use of Irish. As part of that plan, there is an opportunity to look again at the issue of exemptions.
To try to raise awareness around how the exemption process should work, both for students, parents and school management, we are trying to look at ways to increase the information around it.
It is something that we always, from time to time, review. The inspectorate report in 2019 outlined the idea that what might be a solution is to have some kind of differentiated curriculum available. That is the kind of issue that needs to be looked at, particularly in the context of post-primary exemptions.
Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Ligfidh mé díobh teacht ar ais leis na ceisteanna sin mar lig mé don Teachta Ní Raghallaigh.
Naoise Ó Muirí (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Níl sé soiléir. Céard atá an Roinn ag rá? Ní dóigh liom go bhfuil an córas ag obair. Tá fadhb sa chóras ó thaobh díolúintí de. Ba mhaith liom cloisteáil ón Roinn an bhfuil fadhb leis an gcóras. Cén dearcadh atá ag an Roinn ó thaobh an chórais de?
Tá 20,000 dalta a bhfuil díolúine acu. Is cuid den fhadhb é sin. B’fhéidir nach bhfuil an t-eolas seo ag na finnéithe anois, ach bheadh sé suimiúil níos mó eolais a fháil maidir leis an 20,000 dalta sin agus céard atá siad ag déanamh. Tá cúpla rud éagsúil ráite ansin ó thaobh chumas na scoileanna, nach mbíonn teangacha ar fáil in gach scoil sa dara leibhéal, b’fhéidir tar éis na meánteiste, agus mar sin de. Bheadh sé suimiúil breis eolais a fháil ina leith sin. B’fhéidir nach bhfuil sé sin ar fáil anois, ach is féidir an t-eolas sin a sholáthar don choiste. Go bunúsach, cad é atá an Roinn ag rá ó thaobh na ndíolúintí de? Tá fadhb leo. Deir na huimhreacha sin. Ón méid atá an Roinn ag rá, áfach, tá sí den tuairim go bhfuil an córas okay. Is mian liom ráiteas soiléir a fháil ón Roinn faoi céard a cheapann sí.
Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Mar chuid de sin, mar a bhí Mark Bohan ag rá, ní bhíonn díolúine ar fáil do dhaltaí i gcomhair tríú teanga, cosúil leis an bhFraincis, an Spáinnis agus an Ghearmáinis, ach faigheann siad í i gcomhair na Gaeilge. Níl sé soiléir cén fáth a bhfuil sé sin ag tarlú. Iarraim ar na finnéithe freagra a thabhairt air sin.
Mr. Mark Bohan:
The only exemption system that exists is for Irish. Irish is the only core subject that is required. Therefore, there is no exemption system for any other subject because almost of all of them are chosen through choice or depend on the school situation as to whether such subjects are provided and so on. There is no formal exemption system in that regard.
Naoise Ó Muirí (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Does the Department think the exemption system, as it currently stands, is working? That is the fundamental question.
Mr. Mark Bohan:
It depends on what the Deputy means by “working”. There is a system in place that is based on a lot of examination and reports carried out by the inspectorate, our colleagues in special needs and so on who looked at the system. These are the conclusions they have come to. There are specific criteria that should apply to Irish because of the nature of the curriculum, which assumes students have studied it for a previous amount of time. That is different from the curriculum that applies to modern foreign languages at post-primary level, which is essentially aimed at beginning the language.
Naoise Ó Muirí (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I am sorry to cut across Mr. Bohan. Is the Department saying the system is fit for purpose or it is not? What is the Department saying on this issue?
Mr. Mark Bohan:
The system, as it is currently, is operating. It is viewed that if someone meets the criteria, he or she will get an exemption. There are reasons for which there should be exemptions. While they are reviewed from time to time, that is the policy and situation around the exemptions. There is a need for it because of the reasons outlined. Those reasons are reviewed from time to time and I am sure they will be reviewed again. I laid out the context of the increasing numbers of people coming from abroad at post-primary level and the increasing number of people who are being designated with special needs. Therefore, there are more learners who can apply for an exemption. There is also the fact that there is a larger population of those people in the schools.
Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Tabharfaidh mé deis do Sheanadóir Ní Chuilinn teacht isteach agus bogfaidh mé ar aghaidh ansin go dtí an Teachta Connolly.
Evanne Ní Chuilinn (Fine Gael)
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Aontaím leis an Teachta Ó Muirí. Is dóigh liom go bhfuil rud éigin ag titim. Tá rud éigin mícheart leis an gcóras. Luaigh Mark Bohan go bhfuil sé de dhualgas ar fhoireann bainistíochta na scoile déileáil leis na díolúintí, idir iad a chur ar fáil nó a shéanadh. Is dóigh liom go bhfuil na príomhoidí sin faoi bhrú leis an obair agus na cúrsaí sóisialta atá i gceist leis sin. Tá na cinntí sin teicniúil. Is cinntí teicniúla iad. Tá na príomhoidí faoi bhrú leis sin.
Tá gné eile atá ag seasamh amach dom. Is é teideal an chruinnithe seo ná earcaíocht sa tseirbhís phoiblí agus an t-oideachas riachtanach. Is oideachas riachtanach í an Ghaeilge chun a sprioc sin a shroicheadh faoi 2030. B’fhéidir go bhfuil sé de dhualgas orainn, mar choiste agus Roinn, féachaint ar an gcóras le hoibriú amach má tá rud éigin gur féidir linn a dhéanamh chun dul chun cinn níos fearr a dhéanamh. Tá 55,000 díolúintí faoi láthair agus níl sé sin ceart go leor. Is í ár dteanga féin an t-aon teanga ina bhfuil díolúine ar fáil. Tá fadhb leis sin.
Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Tuigeann gach duine go bhfuil gá le díolúintí.
Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Tá an t-uafás cloiste againn, áfach, faoi scoileanna áirithe i gceantair áirithe a bhfuil i bhfad níos mó díolúintí á bhfáil acu. Sin í an fhadhb atá feicthe ag gach duine anseo. Is é sin an cás atá á thabhairt ag na Teachtaí Dála agus Seanadóirí anseo faoi láthair.
Mr. Mark Bohan:
Recently, we have been looking at schools where there is both high and low level of exemptions. There has been engagement with those schools. That engagement will also form part of a further review to see whether there are things we can learn from the schools where there are low levels of exemptions, such as particular approaches or things they are doing that might be viewed as best practice that we could bring in to raise awareness among other schools.
In schools where there are high levels of exemptions, we would like to explore more with those schools. Sometimes, those high levels are related to more obvious things. Some schools took on a lot of Ukrainian students, for example. While at the overall level, the population can look quite stark, that was the simple factor for the large increase of exemptions in those schools' population. It depends from school to school.
With regard to principals being under pressure to grant exemptions, some of the criteria are rather straightforward, such as the age of students coming from abroad. Other cases need testing to be carried out and information and data showing there is a persistent, difficult problem for the child involved. That is what we want. We do not want to make the criteria too loose. It is the school management who should know the child the best. They are able to attest to their performance and the types of difficulties or issues they are having at school to ensure they meet the criteria in the circular.
Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Tá mé chun bogadh ar aghaidh chuig an chéad cheist eile.
John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Tá fáilte roimh na finnéithe. Tá slua mór acu i láthair, a thaispeánann cé chomh dáiríre is atá siad faoin ábhar seo. Tá cúpla ceist sciobtha agam. Chun cur leis an imní sin, tá imní eile orm le déanaí anois go bhfuil laghdú ar an méid ama atá ar fáil don Ghaeilge mar ábhar sa churaclam bunscoile nua. I gcomhthéacs an mhéid atá cloiste agam ó mo chomhghleacaithe maidir le díolúintí, agus an imní a luaigh an príomhchigire in 2022 faoi scileanna cumarsáide na bpáistí bunscoile, cén fáth a bhfuil muid anois ag laghdú an ama atá ar fáil don Ghaeilge sna bunscoileanna? Cuireann sé sin imní orm.
Tá cúpla ceist eile orm. Cé mhéad scoil atá páirteach sa scéim Gaelbhratach? Cén sórt maoinithe atá ar fáil chun tacaíocht a thabhairt do scoileanna páirt a ghlacadh inti?
Maidir leis an suirbhé sin a luaigh Dermot Brown, an dtuigim i gceart é go bhfuil sé ag déanamh suirbhé ar phátrúnacht na scoileanna agus go mbeidh deis ag scoileanna athrú ó phátrún amháin go pátrún eile, nó an bhfuil muid ag caint faoi chúrsaí teanga amháin?
Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Níl mé chun labhairt faoi na díolúintí nó beidh na finnéithe anseo don lá ar fad mar tá scannal ar siúl. Tá an dlí á bhriseadh i mo thuairim. Sa Dáil dheireanach, rinne an coiste déileáil leis an ábhar sin. Tá an Roinn ag loic ar chearta teanga daoine a bhfuil riachtanais éagsúla acu agus ar mhic léinn a thagann ó thar lear. Tá siad in ann Béarla, mata agus gach uile ábhar eile a fhoghlaim. Níl aon bhac orthu Gaeilge a fhoghlaim ag ceann de na trí leibhéal atá i gceist.
Tá an Roinn ag rá nach bhfuil siad ábalta. Sin atá á rá má thugtar díolúintí chomh flúirseach is a thugtar iad faoi láthair.
An cheist atá agam, agus an fáth go bhfuil na finnéithe os ár gcomhair inniu, ná chun fáil amach cad atá á dhéanamh acu chun cuidiú leis an Stát go mbeidh inniúlacht sa Ghaeilge ag na 20% de na daoine ag dul isteach sa Státseirbhís ó 2030 ar aghaidh ionas go mbeidh muidne a bhfuil Gaeilge againn agus atá ag iarraidh ár ngnó a dhéanamh leis an Stát in ann é sin a dhéanamh ag leibhéal éigin. Ní fheicim go bhfuil aon deifir nó fuadar faoin dá Roinn atá os ár gcomhair chun cuidiú leis sin ón uair a ritheadh an tAcht in 2021. Ritheadh Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla ceithre bliana ó shin. Roimhe sin, bhí sé leagtha amach go mbeadh an t-athrú seo ag tarlú. Ní fheicim líon mór breise scoláirí ag teacht ón gcóras meánscolaíochta le Gaeilge. Níl aon mhórdeifir ó thaobh Ghaelcholáistí nua a bhunú.
Tá ceist agam ar Dermot Brown ach go háirithe. An bhfuil an figiúr a luaigh sé - 400 - leagtha síos go beacht? An bhfuil na critéir atá ann chun Gaelcholáiste nua a bhunú leagtha síos agus ar fáil do gach uile dhuine? Go bhfios dom, níl. Cad iad na cinn a bhfuil an Roinn ag féachaint orthu faoi láthair? Tá feachtas i roinnt ceantar timpeall na tíre chun Gaelcholáiste nua a thógáil. Más buan mo chuimhne, bhí cúig cinn os ár gcomhair. Tá súil againn go dtosóidh ceann amháin an bhliain seo chugainn i Synge Street. Bhí ceithre cinn eile ullamh agus breis agus 1,000 páiste i gceist. Níl aon chuma go bhfuil cur chuige ann chun iad sin a thógáil.
Ó thaobh an Roinn ardoideachais, bhíomar ag díriú isteach air seo mar choiste le tamall anois. Tá líon na gcúrsaí ar fáil i nGaeilge seachas cúrsa Gaeilge chomh híseal go bhfuil sé tubaisteach. B'fhéidir go mbeadh an Roinn in ann daoine ag an leibhéal cléireachais a earcú chuig an Státseirbhís i gcoitinne. Ní bheidh na cáilíochtaí ar leith ná an Ghaeilge acu ach amháin má tá sé acu de thairbhe iad a bheith tógtha le Gaeilge, ag freastal ar Ghaelcholáiste nó tar éis marc maith a fháil. Níl aon líon mór go leor. Níl na cúrsaí ann. Níl cúrsaí innealtóireachta as Gaeilge. Níl cúrsaí leighis as Gaeilge. Is féidir linn liosta a dhéanamh mar níl ach 1% de na cúrsaí atá ar fáil go bhfuil píosa de faoin nGaeilge. Sin an méid. Ní raibh a fhios ag an Roinn cé mhéad cúrsa atá ann. Sin an dá cheist. Tá a lán eile, ach fágfaidh mé mar sin faoi láthair é.
Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Sula dtagaim chuig an Teachta Moynihan, gheobhaimid freagraí ar na ceisteanna ag na Teachtaí Connolly agus Ó Snodaigh. Tosóidh muid leis an Roinn oideachais, agus ansin beidh an Roinn ardoideachais ina diaidh.
Mr. Gavan O'Leary:
Maidir leis an nGaeilge sa bhunscoil agus sa churaclam nua, iarrfaidh mé ar Mark Bohan teacht isteach air sin. B'fhéidir gur féidir linn dul ar ais. Luadh an eiseamláir dea-chleachtais. Iarrfaidh mé ar an Dr. Treasa Kirk rud éigin a rá faoi sin agus an obair atá idir lámha ag an gcigireacht maidir le cad atá ar siúl sna scoileanna ansin. Maidir leis an suirbhé ar an bpátrúnacht, iarrfaidh mé ar Dermot Brown teacht isteach. Is féidir leis labhairt faoi sin agus cuid de na ceisteanna maidir le feachtais chun Gaelcholáistí nua a bhunú agus gach rud mar sin. Ansin is féidir lenár gcomhghleacaithe ón Roinn ardoideachais agus breisoideachais teacht isteach. Tosóidh mé le Mark Bohan agus an curaclam nua.
Mr. Mark Bohan:
In relation to the change in the time allocations for the primary curriculum, in 2023 the primary curriculum framework was published as part of the general redevelopment of the primary curriculum that has been going on in the last number of years. One of the things that had been called for for some time was an increase in the approach to the idea of well-being. There was to be an increase in the allocation of hours for well-being. We also have the introduction of modern foreign languages for the later years of primary school. In order to do that, the time allocations had to be reviewed. The decision was made to introduce it in a certain way. For language 1, which was obviously either English or Irish, depending on the medium of instruction, it is reduced by 45 minutes a week in stage 1, 15 minutes a week in stage 2 and 60 minutes a week in stages 3 and 4, which is when the modern foreign languages come into the curriculum. In terms of language 2, Irish in an English-medium school or English in an Irish-medium school, that remains unchanged at stage 1 in terms of the hours a week. It is reduced by 30 minutes a week at later stages in the school. The modern foreign languages will be one hour a week. Irish L2 would be three hours a week. In terms of the teaching and learning of English and Irish, time will continue to be ring-fenced for those curriculum areas. Language learning will continue through the other subject areas as well as part of the learning outcomes in the other subjects they would learn. The primary curriculum framework also restored the concept of flexible time in the primary school curriculum. There is a monthly allocation of hours at the various stages ranging from five to seven hours a month that can be used to supplement subjects. That would be down to the teacher to decide what that time could be spent on and what is needed for the children at the time. It could be used if the teacher decides to make up that time or to focus on other areas as they see best.
Dr. Treasa Kirk:
Maidir leis an gcigireacht, mar is eol don choiste, tá ról reachtúil ag an gcigireacht ó thaobh dhearbhú na gcáilíochtaí i scoileanna. Mar a dúirt Mark Bohan ansin maidir leis an obair atáimid ag iarraidh a dhéanamh, tá sampla beag de scoileanna agus tá an chigireacht ag féachaint ar shampla beag d'iarscoileanna agus ar an dea-chleachtas, in ionad a bheith ag díriú isteach ar na fadhbanna atá ag an scoil. Breathnaítear ar an dea-chleachtas má tá líon íseal díolúintí sna scoileanna céanna agus scaiptear an dea-chleachtas ar scoileanna eile. Sin ceann amháin de na gníomhaíochtaí atá á dhéanamh againn i gcomhar leis an rannóg curaclaim agus measúnachta.
Mar is eol don choiste, bíonn samhail chigireachta leathan ar siúl ag an gcigireacht. Féachaimid ar raon scoileanna, scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge agus Gaeltachta san áireamh, gach bliain. Foilsíodh polasaí na cigireachta i mí an Mheithimh i mbliana. Foilseofar tuarascáil cigireachta bhliantúil go luath. Tá sé sin réidh. Beidh caibidil ann faoi chur chun feidhme curaclam teanga na bunscoile. Dár ndóigh, sa chaibidil sin táimid ag díriú isteach ar na dúshláin atá i scoileanna faoi láthair maidir le cúrsaí Gaeilge agus ag féachaint ar aon dea-chleachtas atá ann chun an dea-chleachtas sin a scaipeadh. Má tá aon cheist eile ag na finnéithe, tá mé sásta iad a fhreagairt.
Mr. Dermot Brown:
To clarify, it is a survey of primary school parents and guardians and the parents and guardians of children not yet in school on their preferences with regard to important aspects of school provision and choice. The survey will include questions on patronage and co-education, but there will also be an important question on the language of provision in the school. A question will be asked on whether they would prefer education through Irish or English in their school of choice.
The survey is the first step in a process of inclusive dialogue which will be held between the Department and the primary school communities. We will be working with the relevant stakeholders where there is support from the parents and guardians for change. The Deputy has to remember it will be possible for a school to keep its patronage but to change its language. The patronage is not the issue when it comes to Irish-medium education because all the patrons provide a rung of Gaelscoileanna. The preferences on education through Irish will inform future school planning and consultation around opportunities to provide increased education provision through Irish. The survey results will input into the wider work ongoing in the Department on the development of the new policy of Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht. Learnings from the primary school survey will determine the value of running a survey at post-primary level on the same issue.
In relation to what Deputy Ó Snodaigh has raised, it is part of the work currently under way in the Department on the development of a new policy of Irish-medium education outside the Gaeltacht. A task force is due to be established as an action under the new policy to explore the various models of Irish-medium education provision that exists and to facilitate collaboration between the Department and key stakeholders in reconceptualising the current models of provision, if necessary. That would include an examination of the aonad model and an examination of the likes of the pilot model in Dundalk, where what we have what we call a satellite school, which is an additional campus of the Gaelcholáiste in Balbriggan, Coláiste Ghlór na Mara. It is a new way. We have been looking at the provision of a Gaelcholáiste there since September 2023. Of course, there is the model that is being used at the moment with Synge Street, which is a very important model where an English-medium school will transition to a Gaelcholáiste over a period.
Mr. Tomás Ó Ruairc:
Bhí ceist ag an Teachta Ó Snodaigh maidir le céard atáimid ag déanamh mar chóras oideachais chun obair i dtreo na sprice 20% agus cá bhfuil an dlús, an phráinn agus an deifir. Tá cúpla pointe gur mhaith liom a dhéanamh. Ar an gcéad dul síos, ardaím an maoiniú agus an tacaíocht reatha. De réir na bhfigiúirí is deireanaí atá againn, tá os cionn 40,000 gasúr ag freastal ar an gcóras Gaelscolaíochta ag an mbunleibhéal. Tá os cionn 14,000 ar an gcóras iarbhunleibhéal. Tá beagnach 320 scoil. Tá, san iomlán, thart ar 900,000 gasúr ag freastal ar an gcóras Béarla. Tá muid ag maoiniú thuarastal na múinteoirí, tacaíochtaí éagsúla tríd Oide, an Gaeloideachas agus tacaíochtaí éagsúla tríd an gComhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta. Mar a d'aithin muid ag an tús, dá fheabhas is dá mhéad is ea atá an méid atáimid ag déanamh, tá tuilleadh le déanamh i gcónaí. Aithnítear é sin, cuir i gcás leis an bpolasaí um oideachas Gaeltachta. Aithnítear é sin chomh maith leis an dá phíosa oibre atá le seoladh go luath, an polasaí um oideachas Gaeilge taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht agus an plean gnímh don Ghaeilge sna scoileanna meán-Bhéarla.
Caithfimid a aithint chomh maith go bhfuil muid ag caint ar ardú sa Státseirbhís ar fad. Tá dhá chloch ar a laghad ar ár bpaidrín leis sin. Ceann amháin a bhaineann linn, sé sin le rá na polasaithe, an tacaíocht agus an maoiniú reatha. Baineann ceann eile le tarraingteacht na gairme sa Státseirbhís go ginearálta. Tá freagrachtaí áirithe orainn mar bhaill den Státseirbhís sin, ach tá freagrachtaí ar an gcóras ar fad agus muid ag iarraidh ár gcion agus ár gcuid a dhéanamh mar chuid de sin. Ó thaobh an dlúis de, caithfimid a aithint gur cuireadh tús le seoladh an pholasaí um oideachas Gaeltachta sa bhliain 2016, sula ndearnadh na leasuithe is deireanaí ar Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla. Tosódh leis an bpolasaí a chur i bhfeidhm sa bhliain 2017. Cuireadh moill dhá bhliain ar chur i bhfeidhm an pholasaí toisc an phaindéim. Ní raibh aon neart ag aon duine ar sin. Mar a dúirt mé cheana féin, aithnítear trasna an bhoird an feabhas is atá tar éis éirí leis an bpolasaí sin go dtí seo agus muid ag leanúint leis na tacaíochtaí do scoileanna atá páirteach sa scéim sin.
Anuas air sin, shocraigh muid dlús a chur leis an obair ar an nGaeilge sna scoileanna meán-Bhéarla toisc go rabhamar ag iarraidh dlús agus deifir a chur le cúrsaí. Sular críochnaíodh an obair ar an bpolasaí um oideachas Gaeltachta, bhunaigh muid foireann ar leith taobh istigh den Roinn le haird ar leith a thabhairt ar an nGaeilge sna scoileanna Béarla. Buíochas le Dia, seolfar an dá phíosa oibre le chéile faoi cheann cúpla seachtain, mar a d'fhógair an tAire le deireanaí.
Ó thaobh teagasc trí mheán na Gaeilge, mar a dúirt an Teachta, ní fhéadfaí brath ar mhúineadh na Gaeilge amháin. Faoin bpolasaí um oideachas Gaeltachta, bhunaigh agus maoiníonn muid an chéim B. Oid i gColáiste Oideachais Marino. Tá sé dírithe ar earnáil na Gaelscolaíochta. Sa choláiste céanna, i mí Mheán Fómhair na bliana seo, thosaigh conradh lán-Ghaeilge ar an gcáilíocht iarchéime don mhúinteoireacht. Tá 12 tosaithe ar an gconradh lán-Ghaeilge don mhúinteoireacht. In éineacht leis an B. Oid i Marino, bhunaigh agus maoiníonn muid máistreacht san oideachas lán-Ghaeilge ar leibhéal iarchéime atá i gColáiste na Tríonóide faoi láthair. Bhíodh sé i gcoláiste eile roimhe sin.
Leis na rudaí móra sin, táimid tar éis fás a chur le líon na ngasúr atá ag freastal ar an ríomh-mhol. Aithníonn muid go bhfuilimid ag tosú ag pointe áirithe anseo ach tá earnáil na Gaelscolaíochta ag fás. Ní hamháin go mbraitheann sé ar sholáthar scoileanna, ach ar sholáthar múinteoirí chomh maith. Tá na dúshláin chéanna ag earnáil na Gaelscolaíochta is atá ag an earnáil faoi chéile, ach amháin go bhfuil na dúshláin sin níos géire ar ndóigh mar a thug an Teachta le fios. Ní hamháin go bhfuiltear ag iarraidh ábhar a mhúineadh, ach táthar ag iarraidh an t-ábhar a mhúineadh trí mheán na Gaeilge. Buíochas le Dia, tá méadú faoi dhó tar éis teacht ar líon na scoláirí. Tá beagnach 50 ar an ríomh-mhol. Den chéad uair riamh, tá scoileanna lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht, ceithre cinn acu, ag glacadh páirt sa ríomh-mhol sin. Ag brath ar thosaíochtaí eile de chuid na Roinne, tá sin saindírithe ar na hábhair eolaíochta, ceimic agus fisic. Tá sé an-deacair ar aon scoil múinteoir a aimsiú dóibh, ach a bhuíochas leis an ríomh-mhol, táimid ag fás an soláthar teagaisc trí mheán na Gaeilge do na hábhair sin. Is fás beag é ach fás mar sin féin.
Chomh maith leis sin, tá scéim roinnt na múinteoirí. Ní nós le scoileanna múinteoirí a roinnt go cóir. Táimid ag iarraidh é sin a fhás. Tá sé saindírithe ar earnáil na Gaelscolaíochta. Tá ceithre scoil lán-Ghaeilge ag glacadh páirt sa scéim sin. Ach an oiread leis na rudaí eile a luaigh muid, beimid ag breathnú go cúramach ar chur i bhfeidhm na scéime sin, cén chaoi a n-oibríonn sé, cén chaoi nach n-oibríonn sé agus cén chaoi a bhféadfadh muid é sin a fhás trasna an chórais ar fad.
Mr. Keith Moynes:
The first thing to say is we absolutely acknowledge more needs to be done. The numbers at present just are not sufficient to meet the targets that have been set out by the Government. We fully recognise that more is going to need to be done. We are going to need to mobilise around this. The challenge that Deputy Ó Snodaigh articulated really encapsulates the challenge. If we are thinking about the entirety of public services, we are thinking about everything from someone in a clerical role, to someone who is a medical consultant. What does that suggest? It suggests that a one-size-fits-all approach is not what is going to work. There will undoubtedly be courses that one could imagine being delivered bilingually. We see that in the system in isolated pockets such as business or law through the medium of Irish. However, we recognise that there is not enough of that. I do not think that model itself will be sufficient to deliver on a 20% target.
When we think about the work that we are engaging with, Roinn na Gaeltachta for the national plan for delivery of services, we are informed by what has worked in the past. It is not the only time we have experienced a situation where the system organically is not responding. We talk a lot about autonomy in higher education. We regard autonomy as a good thing. It means that institutions are responding to local and regional needs and that there is not someone in Dublin telling someone in the ATU in Killybegs what to do. That is not how the system works; the system responds organically. The question, therefore, is when the system is not responding organically, what do you do? We have had this before.
Over the past number of years, healthcare is something that we have really had to mobilise around. You look at the demands for healthcare for disability services. The system was not at that point responding sufficiently. You really need to go in and understand the dynamics of why this is not happening. What is the demand? There are loads of reasons things might not respond in the way that you want it to. Maybe sufficient demand is not coming in. Maybe the attractiveness of the role on the other end is not there. Maybe there are issues around terms and conditions. Maybe the capabilities of the institution are not there and there are other external factors. In healthcare, it is a lot to do with placements. For us to really get a handle on how we get better at this and the models we need to use, we really need to do a much better analysis of what is stopping the system from responding organically.
One of the big things we are going to do as part of the national plan is to work with Roinn na Gaeltachta to understand what the demand dynamics are and why the system is not organically responding the way it does in other areas. If we look at employer satisfaction across a range of areas, there are areas where there is huge employer satisfaction. Clearly, this system is just not mobilising in the way we would hope organically. That is the first thing we have to look at.
The second thing we have to look at, and this goes back to the point raised by an Teachta Ó Snodaigh, is what the models for delivery are. The classical higher education degree programme run bilingually is one model. We can certainly see that there are services where this sort of level of bilingual service would be needed. It is up to the public service providers to tell us. The way we operate is we interact with employers who tell us what are the requirements they need. There is certainly, you would imagine, demand for more courses that are bilingual. We are already working on an apprenticeship for Irish specialism in the Civil Service. That is one course that is under way about which we are thinking. There are microcredentials out there. Therefore, there are some models out there that have the potential to be scalable with the right resourcing. We will look at those and other models. I know from looking at this committee's deliberations that the Welsh model has been frequently cited. An Teachta Connolly and an tAire, an Teachta Lawless, were discussing this last week in the Dáil and he committed to looking at the Welsh model. That is something. They have had success. When you drill into a bit, it is a bit more nuanced. The Welsh face some of the challenges we face but it is a model that clearly has been successful so we want to look at that.
There is another thing we will do in the immediate term. As our system is autonomous, the way we activate demand is that, when we understand from an employer group that the system has not responded organically, we go out to the wider system and seek expressions of interest to develop programmes. We have done that recently with veterinary courses. There was a long-standing issue with Irish students having to leave to go to eastern Europe to study veterinary science. We have done an expression an interest and are now in the process of putting those courses into South East Technological University and Atlantic Technological University. We will be doing other such expressions of interest. The Government priority on disability is one that is very high up on the list. As part of that, we will be looking to colleges and explicitly asking them if there is a possibility of delivering courses as Gaeilge. You would imagine that is particularly important in, say, speech and language therapy for kids in Gaeltacht areas whose first language is Gaeilge. That is something we will be doing as part of future iterations. We will be thinking about how we build that in explicitly. The Cathaoirleach mentioned timelines at the outset. The national plan for the delivery of services is reasonably imminent so we will have commitments in that and the Minister has asked us to commence those quickly. For some of the expressions of interest, there are ones imminent, in the next couple of weeks for some of them, so we will make sure that Irish-language bit is built into it. The bit about models beyond what we have will probably take a little bit of time because, rather than just jumping in, we need to understand what is happening and why the system is being inhibited. All of that is a recognition that there is a lot more to be done and we are committed to working on all those issues.
Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Gabhaim buíochas le Keith Moynes as sin. An bhfuil aon cheist eile ag an Teachta Connolly?
John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Tá ceist amháin agam faoin Gaelbhratach. Tagann maoiniú ón Roinn oideachas le haghaidh na scéime sin ach ní raibh éinne in ann figiúr a thabhairt dom don líon scoileanna atá páirteach ann, fiú amháin an maoiniú atá ar fáil do Ghael Linn ón Roinn chun tacú le scoileanna atá ag iarraidh a bheith páirteach sa scéim. Is é sin an chéad rud. Maidir leis an bhfleisc-am seo sa churaclam nua, an bhfuil Mark Bohan ag moladh go n-úsáidfeadh scoileanna an fleisc-am sin don Ghaeilge?
Mr. Gavan O'Leary:
Gabh mo leithscéal ach is le Gael Linn an scéim sin ach iarrfaidh mé ar Mark Bohan teacht isteach ar an nasc atá idir an Roinn agus Gael Linn maidir leis an scéim sin. Níl na figiúirí agam ach is féidir linn iad a fháil don Teachta mura fuil siad againn inniu. Is Mark an duine a bheadh in ann an cheist maidir leis na huaireanta sa churaclam nua a fhreagairt.
Mr. Mark Bohan:
The Department provides some funding to Foras na Gaeilge for a number of different projects and one of the things that funding goes towards is Gael Linn for the Gaelbhratach project. We give approximately €180,000 a year to it. I think Foras na Gaeilge provides something along the lines of that amount as well. In the last year or two, our colleagues in the Department of the Gaeltacht have come on board as a significant funder of that project. That Department now provides almost €2 million towards it. I and colleagues from other areas, with the Department of the Gaeltacht, Foras na Gaeilge and Gael Linn, have put together a steering group for the project to try to see how we can best progress it. It is something that is well received by everybody and is to be supported. As Mr. O'Leary mentioned, we can get some figures. I think Gael Linn publishes them but we can certainly look at getting the Deputy some figures.
John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Tá deis mhaith anois ann go dtiocfadh ardú mór ar an líon scoileanna atá sa scéim ós rud é go bhfuilimid ag caitheamh €2 mhilliún air. Is maith an rud é sin. Tá ceist fós ann faoin bhfleisc-am. It is a welcome development that this level of funding is going into the scheme but it has come from the Department of Rural, Community Development and the Gaeltacht. Irrespective of where it comes from, it is welcome.
John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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It should, you would hope, see more schools participate in the scheme. Maidir leis an bhfleisc-am, the flextime, I do not want to misinterpret Mr. Bohan but is it a suggestion that this would be used for Irish in the new primary school curriculum?
John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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However, it is a five to seven hour period in a month.
Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Níl mé soiléir fós maidir leis na critéir chun meánscoil, Gaelcholáiste, nua a bhunú. An gá go mbeadh trí Ghaelscoil ann? An gá go mbeadh figiúr ar leith ann chun a léiriú go bhfuil an t-éileamh ann? Luaigh mé go raibh roinnt feachtas ann. Cá bhfuil siad sin? An bhfuil an Roinn ag féachaint ar na feachtais atá tar éis an éilimh sin a léiriú cheana féin agus an figiúr a luaigh Dermot Brown a bhí níos mó ná 400, go bhfios dom? Sin a luaigh na hoifigigh ón Roinn nuair a bhí siad os comhair an choiste.
Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Ní gá gur sin atá i gceist. Má tá mise mar pháiste ag dul go dtí bunscoil Ghaeilge, tá an Stát ag brú orm dul go scoil Bhéarla. It is not democratic need. There is a need for education at second level through Irish. The State then forces the student to go to an English-speaking school if there is no facility available. Níl an soláthar ann. Níl an seans ann. Is é sin an fáth go dtéann 8% de na daltaí sa tír go Gaelscoil ach titeann sé sin go dtí 4% sa dara leibhéal. Is ceist dháiríre í sin. Tá ar a laghad 4% de pháistí nach féidir dul ar aghaidh go dtí Gaelscoil.
Mr. Dermot Brown:
We have a number of solutions that we use in places around the country. We use the aonads. There is quite a good spread of these, 16 throughout the country at the moment, which cater for the education of more than 1,000 pupils. Which campaign in particular is Deputy Ó Snodaigh referring to? Is there a particular campaign?
Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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We have solved the issue campaigned for by Gaelcholáiste BÁC 2, 4, 6 and 8. There is a campaign sa Tulach Mhór, one in Sandyford here in the city and one in Castlebar. Their representatives have all come before the committee. The Department is well aware because it has been in touch. It has outlined the plan and has the feeder schools already set up.
Mr. Dermot Brown:
Yes, and thankfully the developments with Synge Street CBS will cater for Dublin 2, 4, 6 and 8. There is the provision of an aonad at the moment in Portlaoise which is quite successful and provides for Tullamore. We try where we can to cater for the provision. We do offer that if there is a critical mass of 400 students, we will look at establishing a Gaelcholáiste. That is what we have. However, the demographic needs at the moment are not there to establish new secondary schools, which is why we are looking at the likes of the pilot system and the aonaid. In the same way, there is a working group to be set up which will look at expanding how we provide schools, particularly at post-primary level, to try to take that pressure off that particular sector.
Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Is féidir liom teacht ar ais agus ar ais ach-----
Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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No. Is féidir ceist dheireanach a chur mar tá leath huair a chloig fágtha againn.
Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Tuigim. Measaim nach dtuigeann Dermot Brown an fhadhb. Tógadh mise - chomh maith le daoine eile - le Gaeilge i mBaile Átha Cliath. D'éirigh le mo thuismitheoirí mé a chur go dtí bunscoil lán-Ghaeilge a bhí i mBaile Átha Cliath, ach tá feachtais eile timpeall na tíre áit a raibh ar thuismitheoirí scoileanna a bhunú, íoc as múinteoirí iad féin agus ansin, sa deireadh thiar, thug an Stát aitheantas do na scoileanna. Dúradh go raibh athrú tar éis tarlú. Ní féidir scoil a bhunú anois, íoc as mar thuismitheoir agus do pháistí a chur ann. Ach má tá daoine i gceantar nach bhfuil Gaelscoil nó Gaelcholáiste ann, tá an Stát ag cur brú orthu - mar caithfear na páistí a chur ar scoil - oideachas trí Bhéarla a dhéanamh ag leibhéal áirithe. Tá fás tar éis teacht ar líon na nGaelscoileanna ó bhí mise ar scoil. Tá fás tar éis teacht ar líon na nGaelcholáistí freisin ach níl an fás mór go leor. Tá Dermot Brown ag rá go bhfuil aonaid ann ach níl siad sin ann fiú. Níl aon chritéir ann d'aonaid. Níl a fhios ag éinne conas ceann a bhunú mar athraíonn sé ó chás go cás agus níl a fhios againn an oibríonn sé ag an leibhéal gur chóir. Cén uair a athraíonn aonaid go Gaelcholáiste? Tá a lán ceisteanna ann. B'fhéidir nach féidir iad sin ar fad a fhreagairt ag an staid seo. An bun rud ná nach bhfuil an t-aitheantas á thabhairt ag an Roinn oideachas d'éileamh an pháiste atá ag iarraidh leanúint leis an nGaeloideachas. Ní féidir leo dul ar aghaidh má tá siad ina n-aonar.
Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta Ó Snodaigh. Anois, glaoim ar an Teachta Moynihan.
Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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Tá míle fáilte roimh na finnéithe ar fad chuig an gcruinniú seo. Tosóidh mé leis an Roinn bhreisoideachais más féidir. Faoi mar atá ráite ag an Teachta Ó Snodaigh, tá easpa práinne de chineál éigin sa ráiteas a chur an Roinn ar fáil. Agus mé ag machnamh agus ag féachaint ar na cúrsaí tríú leibhéal atá ar fáil timpeall na tíre, ritheann sé liom nach bhfuil ar fáil mar chúrsaí tríú leibhéal trí Ghaeilge ach an ceann i bhFiontar i DCU agus b'fhéidir cúpla cúrsa eile in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe. Is iad sin na cúrsaí nach cúrsaí Gaeilge iad ach atá á gcur ar fáil trí Ghaeilge. Is é sin an t-athrú meoin atá de dhíth, nach mbeimis ag iarraidh níos mó cáilíochtaí a chur ar fáil do dhaoine chun an Ghaeilge a labhairt ach, faoi mar a dúirt Keith Moynes, go mbeadh seirbhís ardoideachais agus breisoideachais á chur ar fáil trí mheán na Gaeilge. Bheadh spéis agam a chloisteáil, i ndiaidh na gceisteanna seo ar fad a chur, cén cur chuige atá ann oideachas dátheangach a chur ar fáil i réimse leathan ábhair - ní an Ghaeilge amháin - in ollscoileanna na tíre agus ó thaobh an bhreisoideachais freisin.
Feicim go bhfuil printíseachtaí á gcur ar fáil trí Ghaeilge, agus cuirim fáilte rompu sin. An rud tábhachtach anseo ná nach printíseacht sa Ghaeilge atá ann ach printíseacht trí mheán na Gaeilge. Is é sin an dúshlán atá amach romhainn.
Rud eile a rith liom agus mé ag léamh an ráitis a chur na finnéithe faoinár mbráid ná nach léir dom go bhfuil aon chomhordú ar siúl le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta. Ceann de na haidhmeanna atá ag Údarás na Gaeltachta ná le tionscadail nuálach a mhealladh chuig ceantair Ghaeltachta. Gan amhras, nuair atá mealladh á dhéanamh ar thionscail nuálach, bíonn ceisteanna faoi scileanna ansin freisin. Cén pháirtíocht atá ann idir an Roinn agus Údarás na Gaeltachta lena haghaidh sin?
Tá cúpla ceist le cur agam ar an Roinn Oideachais agus Óige ar cheist na ndíolúintí. Faoi mar a dúirt an Teachta Ó Snodaigh, d’fhéadfaimis an-chuid ama a chaitheamh air seo. Cén t-aiseolas atá ag teacht ar ais ó phríomhoidí i leith na ndíolúintí seo? Na scéalta atá á gcloisteáil agam ná nach gcuireann siad fáilte rompu agus go gcuireann siad brú orthu. Ag déanamh machnaimh ar ról an phríomhoide, faoi mar a thuigeann na finnéithe ar fad é, is post gnóthach agus thar a bheith cuimsitheach é. Ní fheicim an loighic a bhaineann le níos mó brú a chur ar phríomhoidí a leithéid de chinneadh mar seo a dhéanamh i measc na gcinntí eile atá acu.
Cuirim fáilte roimh fhoilsiú na beartais um oideachas trí Ghaeilge ach bhí mé ag féachaint ar who does what atá ag an Roinn agus ní fheicim oideachas trí mheán na Gaeilge ainmnithe faoin aonad um oideachas Gaeltachta. Is é sin ceann de na rudaí a ritheann liom agus muid ag plé an ábhair seo. Feicim go bhfuil freagracht ag príomhoifigeach ina leith, agus cuirim fáilte roimh sin, ach níl sé mar chuid den mandate ag an aonad oideachais Gaeltachta faoi mar atá sé liostáilte ar who does what. B'fhéidir gurbh é sin an cás. Ní dóibh liom gurb ea, ón méid atá ráite ag na finnéithe anseo ar maidin agus, mar sin, molaim dóibh é sin a athrú le haitheantas a thabhairt don tábhacht a bhaineann le hoideachas trí Ghaeilge agus le léiriú gur rud difriúil é ó oideachas Gaeltachta.
Tá deich gcontae sa tír nach bhfuil Gaelcholáiste iontu. Cé go bhfuil aonaid i roinnt acu, tá deich gcontae sa tír gan Gaelcholáiste agus áit nach bhfuil fáil ag daoine ar mheánscolaíocht trí mheán na Gaeilge. Is féidir linn a rá gur féidir le haonad i bPort Laoise freastal ar mhuintir an Tulaigh Mhóir. Ní dóigh liom go ndéanann sé sin déileáil leis an bpríomhcheist atá anseo, is é sin nach bhfuil fáil ar oideachas trí theanga oifigiúil eile an Stáit do dhaoine agus go bhfuil muid ag tomhais an éilimh sin de réir tosca déimeagrafacha in áit a chinntiú go bhfuil an fhéidearthacht sin ann do dhaoine atá ag iarraidh a gcuid páistí a chur ar scoil trí mheán na Gaeilge. De réir mar a dhéanaim machnamh air seo, tá mé ag ceapadh gurb é an t-aon bhealach réiteach a fháil ar an bhfadhb seo ná trí reachtaíocht a thabhairt isteach a chuireann iallach ar an Roinn a chinntiú go bhfuil an ceart agus an fhéidearthacht ann do dhaoine a gcuid páistí a chur ar scoil trí mheán na Gaeilge.
Is duine mise a ndeachaigh go bunscoil lán-Bhéarla agus ansin a ndeachaigh go meánscoil lán-Ghaeilge. Bhí sé deacair ach bhí sé indéanta. Tá a lán eolais curtha ar fáil ar láithreán gréasáin Gaeloideachas faoi conas Gaeilge a múineadh do mhuintir na hÚcráine a tháinig anseo le linn an chogaidh. Tá a lán eolais ar an suíomh faoi conas cabhrú le daoine a bhfuil disléicse orthu Gaeilge a fhoghlaim. Tá mé ar bhord bainistíochta scoil lán-Ghaeilge a bhfuil straitéis agus polasaí cuimsitheach aige i leith riachtanais bhreise oideachais, agus oibríonn na hidirghabhálacha sin a chuireann an scoil ar fáil do dhaltaí ó thaobh foghlaim na Gaeilge de.
An cheist mhór atá agam ná, an bhfuil reachtaíocht de dhíth? An t-aon fháth go bhfuil oifigigh ón Roinn bhreisoideachais os ár gcomhair inniu i leith earcaíochta san earnáil phoiblí ná go bhfuil plean ann anois agus go gcaithfidh eagraíochtaí Stáit a bheith in ann seirbhísí a chur ar fáil trí Ghaeilge. Tá mé ag déanamh machnaimh an é sin an bealach le cinntiú go bhfuil rochtain agus fáil ag daoine ar scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge gan taisteal thar teorainn an chontae.
An cheist deiridh atá agam ná ar chomhordú trasteorann. Cén saghas comhordú trasteorann atá á dhéanamh i leith oideachais trí mheán na Gaeilge ar an oileán, ní hamháin ag an dara leibhéal ach ag an tríú leibhéal? Baineann sé sin leis an Roinn bhreisoideachais agus ardoideachais freisin.
Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta Moynihan. Iarraim ar oifigigh ón Roinn ardoideachais freagra a thabhairt ar dtús, má tá sé sin all right.
Mr. Keith Moynes:
An Teachta Moynihan has identified a really critical issue about co-ordination. I would not demur from that at all. The co-ordination of Government approaches to this are being mobilised through Roinn na Gaeltachta through the national plan for Irish language public services, and we are engaging closely with that Department.
I agree with the Deputy. It would not make any sense for us to do a solo run on this. Apart from anything else, it is a big funder into the higher education system. We are not the only funder into the higher education system for Irish language provision. The advanced languages initiative, which is a critical initiative and intervention funded by Roinn na Gaeltachta, has been critical in raising the standards and the provision of, say, Irish language translation, which I am benefiting expertly from today. To get the full picture, we are working with colleagues in that Department. The piece of work we want to do in developing new models will have to be handled in hand with it because in any situation where we are responding to workforce needs, we need to work closely with the relevant Department and then onwards. For example, in healthcare, we work closely with the Department of Health. With disability, we are working with the Department of disability. Colleagues, such as Dr. Dowdall, for example, worked on construction. Absolutely, we work with that Department. I am not sure whether we have had much contact with an t-údarás, but we can look into that. Certainly, we expect the Department to articulate that back to us.
One of the things that we are keen on is the apprenticeship model, which is really employer driven. Deputies and Seanadóirí have been among the foremost in promoting the apprenticeship route. I do not underestimate the ability of that as a model. It is employer driven. If there are employers in Gaeltachtaí who see an opportunity to drive out skills with apprenticeships that are locally identified, there are models there. I will not underestimate the capabilities required to deliver the totality of that as Gaeilge but there are opportunities there with apprenticeships. Certainly, when we are engaging with colleagues in the Department of the Gaeltacht, we-----
Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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The Department could, when mandating its funding streams for the likes of SOLAS or the HEA, say that, from 2029 on, it wants them to ensure there is bilingual provision available for the training providers in their apprenticeships. The Department does not need to wait for another Department to tell it to do that. In a Gaeltacht area, it is not beyond the realms of possibility to say there should be, regardless of workforce needs, bilingual education available.
Mr. Keith Moynes:
Absolutely. I do not demur from that. The point I make about workforce planning is that, to do it right, a workforce plan is needed. Where we are at the moment, however, anything more will be better. I am not saying that we need some detailed analysis to tell us that we need more. We absolutely need more across the board. Funding is not the only issue, though.
Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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I do not mean to cut across, but we are talking at cross-purposes here. I am not necessarily asking for more; I am asking for a different type of what the Department is doing. That is the issue. This is not a workforce need issue, but I understand that point. That is fine for plumbers and electricians and they being able to learn in Irish. What I am wondering about, however, is the mandate the Department is giving to its funding agencies to ensure bilingual provision. That is not more; it is just different.
Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Iarraim ar fhinnéithe a bheith beagáinín níos giorra lena gcuid freagraí. Tá mé díreach ag breathnú ar an am. Sin an méid. I ask witnesses to be a little bit shorter in their answers. I am just conscious of time.
Mr. Keith Moynes:
I do not disagree. Certainly, there are ring-fenced funds already that go to An tAcadamh and there is model in that regard. As we look at models, that is definitely something we will look at. We are open to looking at the right model and interventions to make a difference. We will certainly look at that.
Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Iarraim ar an Roinn oideachais freagra a thabhairt.
Mr. Gavan O'Leary:
B’fhéidir go n-iarrfaidh mé ar dtús ar Mark Bohan teacht isteach le labhairt ar aiseolas na bpríomhoidí maidir leis na ndíolúintí. Ina dhiaidh sin, beidh Tomás Ó Ruairc in ann roinnt a rá maidir le who does what agus cúrsaí eile a bhaineann leis na beartais nua agus na riachtanais, chomh maith le haon rud sa bhreis ar cheist na n-aonad ag leibhéal na meánscolaíochta. Tosóidh muid ar dtús le Mark Bohan.
Mr. Mark Bohan:
When it comes to the feedback from principals, we have seen some reports, which committee members have probably seen themselves, with regard to the pressure principals may feel they come under to grant exemptions and so on. That is understandable if that is what they feel they are getting from people.
In terms of the actual process itself and from a workload point of view, it is a specific process. For example, when it comes to special educational needs, there are specific criteria. It must be shown that student support plans were put in place and there must be written evidence of the difficulties of the learner and so forth. The only people who could do that are the school management teams. That is part of the process they are going to be dealing with anyway. It does not mean the principal has to do it; there are special education teachers and other members of staff going through that process. It is the principal who approves the exemption at the end of the day, however. The principal must say that he or she is satisfied that an exemption should be given. We think that is the best place for it because they are the people who have the learner and all the background. They are the ones who work with the learner and have all the written evidence and statistics. They will know whether a child meets the criteria set out in the circular.
Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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How does the Department ensure consistency across schools with exemptions? Is there external oversight or audit? For example, is a sample of exemptions taken and examined to determine whether the criteria have been applied consistently?
Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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Is that not a gap?
Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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While I get the whole idea of devolution of responsibilities to the principals, what I do not get is why the Department would introduce such a system without introducing oversight at the same time. Why does the Department have to wait for a survey two or three years later to see whether there is consistency? There has obviously been a ballooning in the number of exemptions. The first thing that would go off in my head is the question of whether exemptions are being constantly applied across schools, and we do not have an answer to that.
Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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Does Mr. Bohan agree that, when a system like this is being introduced, some sort of oversight should be put in place? That is why we audit spending on public bodies. That is done every year. Was a decision taken not to introduce that oversight at the time?
Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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I am talking about the one introduced in 2022.
Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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The devolution to principals is only a recent thing, however.
Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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Principals make the final decision on an exemption. Has that ever been subject to any oversight?
Dr. Treasa Kirk:
Maidir leis an gcigireacht a dhéantar ar scoileanna, an rud a dhéantar, i dtuairiscí ag an iarbhunleibhéal go háirithe, tá tagairt sna tuairiscí sin ar líon na ndíolúintí. Maidir leis an gcigireacht, dírítear ar cháilíocht an teagaisc agus na foghlama agus bíonn cruinnithe le tuismitheoirí, scoláirí agus leis an mbainistíocht, dar ndóigh. Ní dhírítear go díreach ar cheist na ndíolúintí ach dírítear ar dhea-chleachtais agus ar aon mholtaí maidir le feabhsú a chur ar chúrsaí teagaisc agus foghlama sna scoileanna.
Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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Díreach leis an bpointe a chríochnú, is cúis imní dom nach bhfuil níos mó eolais ag an gcigireacht maidir le cur i bhfeidhm na gcritéar seo le cinntiú go bhfuil na díolúintí á dtabhairt ar bhealach cothrom trasna na scoileanna sin. Is bearna í sin i mo thuairim. Tuigim go bhfuil muid faoi bhrú le cúrsaí ama.
Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta. Tá roinnt ceisteanna agam. Beidh mé chomh sciobtha agus is féidir liom. Ag breathnú ar ráiteas na Roinne oideachais, ní raibh ach 30 Gaelscoil curtha ar bun idir 2000 agus 2025. Níor roinn an Roinn na huimhreacha do na Gaelcholáistí ach tuigim go bhfuil siad i bhfad níos lú ná sin. Maidir leis na haonaid agus Gaelcholáistí, glacaim leis go bhfuil sé fíor go bhfuil aonad níos fearr ná faic, ach tá an tumoideachas fíorthábhachtach ó thaobh oideachais trí mheán na Gaeilge. Bíonn sé deacair do scoláirí dul isteach i bhfoirgneamh, áit a bhfuil cuid mhór dá gcuid cairde ag caint trí Bhéarla, agus iadsan sa rang amháin seo ag déanamh gach rud trí Ghaeilge. Tá sé i bhfad níos fearr nuair atá an tumoideachas ann. Tagaim ar ais go dtí an suirbhé seo le tuismitheoirí agus caomhnóirí faoin sórt oideachais, agus modh teanga an oideachais, a bheidh á thabhairt sa todhchaí, idir oideachas trí mheán na Gaeilge nó an Bhéarla.
Tá na ceisteanna seo an-tábhachtach. Dá mbeadh Gaelscoil ar fáil, seachas Gaeilge nó Béarla, an sheolfadh daoine a bpáistí ann? Cuid tábhachtach de sin chomh maith ná, dá mbeadh Gaelscoil ar fáil, le tacaíochtaí teanga ann do thuismitheoirí, an seoladh siad a bpáistí go dtí Gaelscoil? An fhadhb is mó don chuid is mó do mhuintir na tíre ná go bhfuil eagla rompu faoin obair bhaile ag teacht thar n-ais abhaile trí Ghaeilge. Teastaíonn ó chuid mhaith tuismitheoirí a bpáistí a sheoladh go dtí Gaelscoil, ach is é sin an bagairt a bhíonn acu an t-am ar fad.
Ba bhreá liom an suirbhé a fheiceáil, agus ba bhreá leis an gcoiste é a fheiceáil, roimh go mbíonn sé roinnte.
Maidir leis an dá Roinn, ba mhaith liom aitheantas a thabhairt don Aire i dtaobh an mhéid ar dhúirt sé an tseachtain seo caite. Ba mhaith liom aitheantas a thabhairt do na hoifigigh atá anseo freisin - tá an ráiteas i bhfad níos láidre ná mar a bhí sé cúpla seachtain ó shin. Caithfidh mé a admháil nach raibh mé sásta nuair a tháinig na hoifigigh isteach an uair sin. Tá an méid atá ráite inniu an-láidir. Feicim gur thuig na hoifigigh an méid a bhí le rá againn cúpla seachtain ó shin agus tá ráiteas i bhfad níos láidre curtha os ár gcomhair anseo.
Tá sé ráite sa ráiteas go bhfuil an dá Roinn ag obair lena chéile, ach ag breathnú ar na naíonraí is a leithéid, is dóigh liom go bhfuil gá láithreach le grúpa saineolaithe le polasaí don Ghaeilge a dhaingniú sa chóras ón luath-óige go dtí an tríú leibhéal mar chuid den fráma tagartha comónta Eorpach. An bhfuil sé sin déanta go fóill? An bhfuil an dá Roinn ag labhairt lena chéile? Tá sé luaite sa ráiteas tosaigh go bhfuil na finnéithe ag déanamh iarracht labhairt lena chéile faoi. Cén saghas obair atá á dhéanamh ag an dá Roinn? Is é sin an cheist atá agam faoi oideachas trí mheán na Gaeilge, sa Ghaelscolaíocht agus sna Gaelcholáistí. Tá grúpa idir na Ranna éagsúla le saineolas ag teastáil.
Joe Conway (Independent)
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Níl mórán le rá agam. Tá a fhios ag an gcoiste go raibh sé de nós fadó ag an Seanadóir Cato the Elder sa Seanad Rómhánach "Delenda est Carthago", nó "Carthage must be destroyed" a rá ag tús agus deireadh gach óráid. Nuair a thagaim isteach i ngach cruinniú den choiste seo, is é an t-aon rud amháin atá sé de nós agamsa tagairt a dhéanamh dó ná staid na Gaeilge sna bunscoileanna agus an dúshlán agus an ghéarchéim atá ann. Tá mé ag déanamh tagairt don fhianaise a bhailigh mé ag obair thar 20 bliain sna bunscoileanna le ceann de na coláistí oideachais. An rud ar thug mé faoi deara faoi na hábhair oidí ná go mbíonn siad thart ar 20 bliain d'aois, nó níos mó. An frása a úsáidim sa choiste arís is arís eile ná go mbíonn na hábhair oidí sin go hiondúil go feidhmiúil neamhliteartha, nó functionally illiterate. Más rud é go bhfuil an ceart agam, tá fadhb mhór againn. Is cur amú ama é a bheith ag féachaint ar earcaíocht sa Státseirbhís ó thaobh an 20%, agus a bheith ag déanamh staidéar ar Ghaeilge ag an triú leibhéal, mura bhfuil an múineadh sna bunscoileanna éifeachtach.
Tá ceist agam do na hoifigigh. Ní theastaíonn uaim a bheith míchineálta do na hábhair oidí atá ag déanamh a ndíchill mar aon leis na scoileanna, ach táimid ag teipeadh. Ba mhaith liom a fháil amach an ndearna na finnéithe aon stáidéar ar na parameters nó na módúil éagsúla. When I go into a staff room and speak to the teachers – I have been doing this for 20 years with one of the education colleges – not alone are the student teachers functionally illiterate ach tá leibhéal an ghnáthchaint laethúil i measc na hoidí maslach. An féidir linn féachaint go géar ar leibhéal an dúshlán? Níl sé réasúnta a bheith ag machnamh faoi thodhchaí na teanga a chothú le hoidí mar seo. Tá géarghá le framework eile. I have often thought that if you have one or two teachers in a school who have a good interest in Gaeilge and are fairly líofa or proficient in it, why not give them freagracht don Ghaeilge do gach rang sa scoil? At the moment every teacher is responsible for the Gaeilge and for the whole curriculum, with a certain amount of fluidness. We should be giving the job to people who can do it because they have a líofacht, and who have a reasonable chance because they are not functionally illiterate. The organisation of the school should be such that the principal, in conjunction with the rest of the staff, should be able to redistribute the teaching duties in a more flexible way so that people who cannot speak Irish are not sent in to teach it. Unless we address that at primary school, we are on a loser.
Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Glaoim ar Gavan O'Leary ón Roinn oideachais.
Mr. Gavan O'Leary:
Is féidir linn tosú leis an gceist maidir le Gaelscoileanna agus an Ghaelscolaíocht. Iarrfaidh mé ar Dermot Brown teacht isteach ar sin agus ar an suirbhé. Tiocfaimid ar ais ansin go dtí ceist an Seanadóra, Iarrfaidh mé ar an Dr. Kirk cúpla focal a rá faoi chaighdeán na Gaeilge agus, mar a luaigh an Seanadóir, an ról atá ag múinteoirí áirithe atá líofacht, suim agus grá acu don teanga a gcomhghleacaí agus na múinteoirí eile sa scoil a spreagadh chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn. Tosóimid le Dermot Brown.
Mr. Dermot Brown:
I will respond to the question that was asked about the structure of the questions asked in the survey. It is a school-specific survey. The reason we have gone school-specific is that we have to we have to try to find a solution within the current school estate. Asking schools whether they would like to transition to a Gaelscoil is our starting point. We hope school communities will have that conversation and will select to be a Gaelscoil. We see parents of children who are not in the school yet as being of huge importance in this area, because they will take a decision on their school going forward. That is why the question is specifically about the school itself.
Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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When the question is framed in that way, in the context it is in, it is nearly a leading question against becoming a Gaelscoil or a Gaelcholáiste. The context needs to change sa chomhthéacs go gcaithfidh tacaíochtaí a bheith ann. It has to be said that if this is the decision, these are the supports which will be available. Without that, obviously parents are going to be hesitant in moving to a Gaelscoil or Gaelcholáiste. That is an important point to make. There is an onus on the Department to ensure that if these changes are to happen and if they are to be successful – we all want them to be successful – the supports are there not just for the staff but for the parents and students as well.
Mr. Dermot Brown:
I see from what is happening in Synge Street at the moment that it is a question of engaging with the staff and the community in relation to how the process happens.
With Synge Street, we had to be very careful that the children in the school at the moment had a route to finish their education and to have a quality education. Our primary concern is to provide not just provision but quality provision of education. All aspects of the survey will be a conversation with the school community. This is the first time we are asking this question. It is the first time we are asking a specific school the question. It is going to give us some very interesting information. The conversation around that with the school community will also provide some very interesting information. We need to have the school community on board before we can make any change.
Evanne Ní Chuilinn (Fine Gael)
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An féidir liom rud éigin an-ghearr a rá?
Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Táimid ag 1 p.m. cheana féin. Ba chóir dúinn críochnú anois. Tá deich soicind ag an Seanadóir.
Evanne Ní Chuilinn (Fine Gael)
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Ó thaobh comhthéacs de le Synge Street agus a bheith ag caint leis na tuismitheoirí agus leis an bhfoireann, níl an-chuid daoine ansin sásta. Tá mise i mo chónaí sa cheantar sin agus tá an-chuid daoine ansin nach bhfuil i bpobal na Gaeilge labhartha. Tá siad míshásta.
Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Tiocfaimid ar ais go dtí seo mar is ceist mhór í seo agus an próiseas a bhí ann.
Evanne Ní Chuilinn (Fine Gael)
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Tá sé deacair a rá go n-oibríonn sé. Tá sé deacair a rá go bhfuil sé chomh simplí sin.
Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Tuigim sin.
Mr. Gavan O'Leary:
Bhí ionadaí ón Roinn breisoideachais agus ardoideachais agus ón Roinn leanaí ar na grúpaí stiúrtha do na beartais a luaigh Tomás Ó Ruairc. Is féidir linn níos mó eolais a thabhairt don Chathaoirleach ach tá súil agam ar an gclog.
Labhair an Seanadóir Conway maidir leis na hábhair oidí. Tá an Chomhairle Mhúinteoireachta ann. Tá caighdeáin ann faoin chéim ionas go mbeidh na ábhair oidí in ann an Ghaeilge a labhairt agus a mhúineadh. Tá na caighdeáin sin ann. Mar a luaigh Keith Moynes, tá neamhspleáchas ag na hinstitiúidí i dtaobh conas a bhaineann siad na caighdeáin sin amach agus conas a chinntíonn siad go mbíonn na caighdeáin faighte ag na hábhair oidí agus na múinteoirí nua. Leagann an Chomhairle Mhúinteoireachta síos an caighdeán atá riachtanach. B'fhéidir go bhfuil níos mó le rá ag an Dr. Treasa Kirk faoin gcigireacht ar sin. Sin an freagra gearr, más mian liom é sin a rá. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir as mo chuid Laidine a chur as ais chugam. Is cuimhin liom an frása sin agus mé ag déanamh Laidine ar scoil. Níor chuala mé é le fada an lá.
Dr. Treasa Kirk:
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir. Aontaím leis go bhfuil sé ríthábhachtach go bhfuil an inniúlacht teanga ag na múinteoirí chun an curaclam a mhúineadh. Níl aon dabht faoi sin. É sin ráite, tá róil ar leith ag na scoileanna, ag ceannairí na scoileanna, agus ag an múinteoir féin maidir le hoiliúint ghairmiúil leanúnach a fháil agus aghaidh a thabhairt ar na cúrsaí atá ar fáil a luaithe agus a bhíonn siad sa seomra ranga. Tá freagrachtaí éagsúla i gceist. Uaireanta braitheann sé sin ar chomhthéacsanna na scoileanna éagsúla. Tá freagracht ar gach uile dhuine chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn inár scoileanna. Níl aon dabht faoi sin. Mar is eol don choiste, faoin Acht Oideachais, tá ról ar leith ag an gcigireacht chomh maith faoi mhír 13(9)(f). Tá ról ar leith maidir leis an nGaeilge agus chun úsáid na Gaeilge a chur chun cinn i scoileanna. Sin a dhéantar faoi stiúir na gcigirí a bhíonn ag déanamh cigireachta agus meastóireachta i scoileanna. Ar scáth a chéile a mhairimid, dar ndóigh, maidir leis an gceist seo.
Naoise Ó Muirí (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Cuireadh dhá cheist ag an tús. Bhain siad leis an amchlár ó thaobh an bheartais nua agus leis an amchlár ó thaobh an phlean gníomhaíochta. Cuireadh an dá cheist. Níor chuala mé freagra ó thaobh an dá cheann. Tá ceisteanna ó thaobh an tsuirbhé agus an cur chun cinn sin. Ceapaim gur cheart dúinn teacht ar ais ag an gceist sin ag an gcoiste seo go gairid. Tá sé an-tábhachtach.
Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Is é sin cad a bhí mé chun plé leis an gcoiste anois. Táim chun ceist a chur ar an dá Roinn. Tá an trí rud seo - an beartas nua, an plean gníomhaíochta agus an suirbhé - á ndéanamh ag an Roinn oideachais. Ba bhreá liom tuairisc a fheiscint uathu, más féidir, nuair atá sé seolta ag an Roinn go bhfuil sé roinnte linn gur féidir linn na beartais sin agus an plean gníomhaíochta a léamh. B'fhéidir go dtiocfaidh an Roinn ar ais isteach chugainn. Más féidir chomh maith fiú suirbhé amháin i gcomhair scoile amháin a roinnt. Is féidir ainm na scoile a bhaint. Más féidir an saghas ceisteanna atá sa suirbhé sin a roinnt leis an gcoiste, beimid in ann é a phlé i gceann cúpla seachtain nó cúpla mí. Ba bhreá liom iad sin a fheiscint. Tá a fhios agam ó cad atá ráite ag na Teachtaí agus na Seanadóirí eile go bhfuil a lán ceisteanna againn faoin suirbhé sin ach go háirithe.
Naoise Ó Muirí (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Beidh amchlár sa tuairisc a fhaightear.
Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Tá sé ráite ag Tomás Ó Ruairc cheana féin go mbeidh an beartas á fhoilsiú faoi dheireadh na seachtaine seo nó i gceann cúpla seachtain.
Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Dá mbeadh na finnéithe in ann iad sin a sheoladh chugainn, bheinn fíorbhuíoch. Beimid in ann labhairt faoi i ndiaidh sin. Leis sin, cuirfidh mé clabhsúr leis an seisiún seo. Cuireann sin deireadh lenár mbreithniú inniu. Gabhaim buíochas leis na hionadaithe ón dá Roinn as an bplé fiúntach agus tairbheach a bhí againn leo inniu. Cuirfear an seisiún ar athló go dtí 11 a.m. ar an 4 Samhain, nuair a phléifear soláthar an oideachais lán-Ghaeilge le hionadaithe ón eagraíocht Gaeloideachais.