Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as an gceist sin a chur. I fully support the important role Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí play in the promotion of the Irish language. We have committed very clearly in the programme for Government to expand opportunities for pupils and students to attend Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí, to establish more Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí where there is demand and also, of course, to support parents choosing Irish-medium education for their children as well as supporting our naíonraí and our teachers who are providing this wonderful education.

I intend to prioritise the publication of a new policy on Irish-medium education outside the Gaeltacht in the coming months. One of the key objectives of this policy will be to consider actions we can take to increase the overall provision of Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí. In order to inform the development of the policy a comprehensive public consultation process was conducted to gather the views of various stakeholders, which of course includes children and young people. Sealbhú, a research centre in DCU, also carried out an analysis of the information gathered throughout the consultation, as well as a review of national and international literature. The draft policy framework was discussed at a consultation event held in September 2024 and stakeholders identified the provision of Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí was a key issue. I will bring this new policy, together with an action plan, to Government for approval in the coming months. I hope it will be September. In developing the policy I have asked my officials to consider in particular the priorities that have been identified by stakeholders during the consultation process. These are being examined in light of existing provision for Irish-medium education, looking at estimated demand in the education system, as well as questions about teacher supply, the Department’s budgetary and legislative context and whether there is more we need to do in that regard. Tá mé ag súil go mór leis an obair thábhachtach seo a chur chun cinn.

See this speech in context