Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Tabharfaidh mé an freagra seo idir Bhéarla agus Ghaeilge. Ba mhaith liom ar dtús mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis an Teachta Ó Snodaigh as ucht aird a tharraingt ar an éileamh atá ar an oideachas lán-Ghaeilge faoi láthair. Mar Aire Oideachais, teastaíonn uaim a chinntiú go ndéanfar soláthar cuí do dhaoine óga ar mian leo oideachas lán-Ghaeilge dara leibhéal a bheith acu. Mar chuid den Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge 2010-30, tá mo Roinn tiomanta do dheiseanna a chruthú chun an t-oideachas lán-Ghaeilge a leathnú lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht. Tá sé seo ag dul ar aghaidh i gcomhthéacs na bhfógraí maidir le bunú 47 scoil nua ó 2019. Tá sé deimhnithe ag mo Roinn go dtugann an próiseas chun pátrúnacht scoileanna nua a shocrú aird ar leith do bhunú Ghaelscoileanna, Ghaelcholáistí agus aonaid lán-Ghaeilge.

In order to plan for school provision and to analyse the relevant demographic data, the Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a geographical information system and data from a range of sources, including child benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where pressure for school places will arise. Where demographic data indicate additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances in each case and may be provided through utilising existing unused capacity in a school, extending the capacity of a school or schools or provision of a new school or schools. After it has been decided that a new school is required based on demographic analysis, a patronage process is run.

The patronage process is open to all patron bodies and prospective patrons. Parental preferences and other considerations, such as the extent of diversity of provision in an area, are key to the decision-making process. Such analysis impacts on whether a school at post-primary level would take the form of an Irish-medium Gaelcoláiste or, if it is to be an English-medium school, whether it would include an Irish-medium unit. The year of establishment, patronage, model and language of instruction have yet to be determined for the new post-primary schools that have been announced and will serve the following two school planning areas in the general south Dublin area, namely Dublin 2 and Dublin 4, including Sallynoggin, Killiney and Cherrywood. While it is expected that the existing Gaelcoláistí in the general south Dublin area have sufficient school places between them to accommodate demand in the short term given the number of new Gaelscoileanna which have opened in recent years or are planned to open in the area, the Department is keeping the position under active review as these schools grow and the number of sixth class pupils in Gaelscoileanna increases.

The opportunities for expansion of provision at existing Gaelcoláistí such as Coláiste Eoin and Coláiste Íosagáin is also relevant and the Department has written to the school patrons of Coláiste Eoin and Coláiste Íosagáin in this context.

The Department is currently developing a new policy for Irish-medium education outside Gaeltacht areas. The policy will be informed by a consultation process. Phase 1 of that process, which involved online work, ran from October 2022 to January 2023. The second phase, which includes focus groups, is currently under way. A review of national and international literature on minority language education provision has also been commissioned along with research on Aonaid in Irish-medium education. This research will also inform the policy development process.

Mar a dúirt mé, tá polasaí nua á fhorbairt ag mo Roinn don Ghaelscolaíocht taobh amuigh de na ceantair Ghaeltachta. Tá comhairliúchán agus taighde suntasach déanta againn agus beidh an taighde seo go léir mar bhonn eolais cuimsitheach don phróiseas forbartha polasaí.

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