Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis an Teachta Ó Cuív, as ucht aird a tharraingt ar an éileamh atá ar oideachas lán-Ghaeilge faoi láthair. Mar Aire Oideachais, teastaíonn uaimse a chinntiú go ndéanfar soláthar cuí do dhaoine óga ar mian leo a gcuid oideachais a fháil trí mheán na Gaeilge. Mar chuid den Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge, tá mo Roinn tiomanta do dheiseanna a chruthú chun oideachas lán-Ghaeilge a leathnú lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht. Tá sé seo ag dul ar aghaidh i gcomhthéacs na bhfógraí maidir le bunú daichead is a seacht scoil nua ón bhliain 2019. Tugann an próiseas atá ann chun pátrúnacht na scoileanna nua seo a shocrú aird ar leith do bhunú Ghaelscoileanna, Gaelcholáistí agus aonaid lán-Ghaeilge.

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

A patronage process is run after it has been decided, based on demographic analysis, that a new school is required. The patronage process is open to all patron bodies and prospective patrons. Parental preferences, as well as 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, at post-primary level, a school will the form of an Irish-medium Gaelcholáiste or whether, if English-medium, the school will include an Irish-medium unit. Where there is demand for an Irish-medium school, but not at the 600 to 1,000 pupil level, a lower threshold of 400 students may apply to Gaelcholáistí. Alternatively, an Irish-medium aonad may be established in an English-medium school.

In 2019, measures were announced to increase access to Irish-medium education as part of the patronage process for primary schools, including that five new primary schools being established from 2020 have been designated for Irish-medium education. Outside of the patronage process for new schools, it is also possible for any post-primary school patron to contact my Department with a view to establishing an aonad. As regards the new policy for Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht, public consultation concluded on 30 June.

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