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

Is mian liom mo chuid ama a roinnt le mo chomhghleacaí, an Teachta Ward. Gabhaim buíochas leis na Teachtaí as an rún atá curtha chun cinn acu agus tá áthas orm an deis a fháil labhairt leis an Teach faoin ábhar tábhachtach seo.

It is timely, with Seachtain na Gaeilge in full swing, to remind the House that we should all endeavour to use the Irish language insofar as we can and as is possible. I intend to do so myself insofar as I can. Is le bród gur chóir dúinn an teanga a úsáid nuair is féidir linn, ní hamháin le linn Sheachtain na Gaeilge, ach aon áit agus aon uair is féidir.

It is clear to me that there is renewed and positive interest in the Irish language, due in no small part to our Irish-language media. TG4, Cúla4, Raidió na Gaeltachta and Irish social media have all played a pivotal role in promoting the language, while films like "Kneecap" and "An Cailin Ciúin" have further shaped public perception. TG4, in particular, has made the language more accessible, normalising its use in daily life. What is particularly significant about these initiatives is that they have reached not just those who would traditionally have engaged with the Irish language; their impact has also extended to children and young people in English-medium schools and to people who may only have thought of Irish as a school subject.

Furthermore, the Official Languages Act and the recognition of Irish as an official language of the European Union mark significant milestones in the status of the Irish language and its future. The growing presence of Irish in public service also strengthens its visibility and prestige, as well as creating opportunities to use it. This should give us confidence in its continued development. Cé go bhfuil dul chun cinn tábhachtach déanta aici i gcur chun cinn na teanga, tuigim go bhfuil go leor fós le déanamh. We must continue to strive for growth. Bealach amháin leis sin a dhéanamh ná a chinntiú go bhfuil daoine ar a gcompord lena húsáid chomh minic agus is féidir. We all need to be comfortable in making mistakes when we try. In any conversation on the language, it is also essential that we start the discussion from a strengths-based perspective. I will share some of the Department of Education’s recent success in promoting the Irish language in our education system.

First, it is important to acknowledge the significant and noteworthy progress that has been made as a result of the introduction of the policy on Gaeltacht education in 2016 - a policy known for its impact in promoting the Irish language, enhancing the teaching of the language, and re-establishing and reaffirming Irish as the language of Gaeltacht school communities. This policy was introduced to support and promote the use of the Irish language in Gaeltacht communities by strengthening Irish-medium educational provision and ensuring high-quality education through the language. Cumhacht an pholasaí seo ná scéim aitheantais scoileanna Gaeltachta, a bhfuil ról mór comhlíonta aici sa dul chun cinn atá déanta go dtí seo. When the scheme was launched, the Department invited schools to participate with the backing of their communities. By opting in, schools committed to implementing language-based criteria and received additional supports to enable them to do so. These criteria not only ensured high-quality education through Irish, but also strengthened awareness of the language within schools and their wider communities. My Department's inspectorate, the Gaeltacht education unit and An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaiochta have supported our Gaeltacht schools on their journey towards gaining recognition as Gaeltacht schools. A significant milestone was celebrated recently at a number of events across the country when official recognition as Gaeltacht schools was awarded to 120 primary and post-primary schools in Gaeltacht language planning areas. Gabhaim buíochas le pobail na scoileanna go léir as a ndílseacht agus a n-obair chun an éacht seo a bhaint amach. The scheme is ongoing, and the Department remains committed to supporting both recognised schools and those still working towards recognition.

Given the excellent work already underway, greater emphasis will be placed on identifying and sharing best practice in Irish-medium immersion education. This work has already begun through the Scéal na Scéime newsletter, issued by my Department, which showcases schools’ achievements under the scheme. One of the more significant investments under the policy on Gaeltacht education has been the funding provided for Irish-medium teacher education programmes. My Department has funded several teacher education initiatives to increase the supply of teachers qualified to teach through Irish.

In 2019, an Irish-medium BEd programme for primary teaching was introduced with funding from my Department. The first cohort of 34 students graduated in November 2023. The Marino Institute of Education was awarded a contract to provide the BEd through the medium of Irish to a further five cohorts. Since 2018, the Department has supported a blended-learning MEd degree in Irish-medium and Gaeltacht education, at first at Mary Immaculate College and currently at Trinity College Dublin. The Máistir Gairmiúil san Oideachas, which is available at the University of Galway, is supported by seconded teachers and COGG bursaries. These programmes are key to ensuring that teachers have the proficiency to deliver high-quality immersion education through Irish. Tá tús áite tugtha ag mo Roinn freisin d'fhorbairt ghairmiúil na múinteoirí. Oide, the professional learning support service funded by the Department, has recently established a GaelAonad division. The GaelAonad has specific responsibility for the provision of professional learning events for schools operating through the medium of Irish and for the curricular area of Irish.

Furthermore, Department of Education investment in the Irish language has been substantial in recent years. It is spread across a broad range of capital projects and language initiatives. For example, over the last five years, €405 million of capital investment has been made in Irish-medium schools. Almost 300 Gaelscoileanna, Gaelcholáistí and Gaeltacht schools across the country have benefited from this investment.

An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta, a dedicated agency to support the teaching and learning of Irish and through Irish, has also seen significant increases in funding. It has gone from €1.35 million to over €3.4 million, indicating a doubling of its funding. It plays an important role in resource development, in convening communities of practice and in providing professional learning opportunities for teachers. As an agency, it is very much aware of the challenges but also the opportunities and needs within the Irish-medium sector and in respect of the teaching of Irish in English-medium schools. With regard to an emerging issue that has arisen, COGG was instrumental in progressing the Department of Education’s content and language integrated learning project. It has developed resources to support English-medium primary schools in teaching PE through the medium of Irish. It has also helped to enhance career opportunities through Irish. I measc phríomhbheartais COGG le déanaí, tá an Tairseach, ardán ar líne a chuireann go leor acmhainní teagaisc trí Ghaeilge ar fáil do réimse ábhair scoile. This development has been absolutely vital in enhancing Irish-medium schools’ abilities to respond to rapid curriculum redevelopment. On innovation in teaching, we have the e-hub project. This delivers leaving certificate physics and chemistry programmes through Irish to Gaeltacht students via remote learning. It is really innovative and supports smaller schools, including island schools, through high-quality online teaching.

The achievements and developments under the policy on Gaeltacht education have laid a strong foundation for the continued growth and development of the Irish language in our education system. The supports of COGG, GaelAonad, the Gaeltacht education unit and the inspectorate ensure that a valuable support network has been created for teachers and school leaders to draw upon. Continued investment in school capital and language initiatives create the space in which the Irish language can thrive. Tá mo Roinn lánsásta leanúint leis an obair seo le tacú le daltaí, tuismitheoirí, múinteoirí agus príomhoidí an teanga a úsáid i gcroílár shaol laethúil na scoileanna.

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