Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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11. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the importance of promoting the provision of Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7382/25]

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Is í mo cheist chun an Aire inniu ná faoin tábhacht a bhaineann leis an nGaeloideachas, na Gaelcholáistí agus Gaelscoileanna a chur chun cinn. I am wondering about the Minister's views on the importance of promoting the provision of Gaeloideachas, Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí. I ask her to make a statement on the matter.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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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.

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I appreciate both the Minister's commitment and the commitment in the programme for Government to Gaeloideachas. There is a huge need. The Minister referred to providing more Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí where there is demand for it. I assure her there is demand for it, and I will come back to that in a second. There are, as far as I know, only 79 Gaelcholáistí in the country and 291 Gaelscoileanna. We only have two Gaelscoileanna and two Gaelcholáistí in my constituency of Dún Laoghaire, namely Coláiste Íosagáin and Coláiste Eoin, which are colocated on a campus in Stillorgan. The two Gaelscoileanna are Scoil Lorcáin and Gaelscoil Phádraig in Ballybrack. The latter requires resettlement to a site in Ballyowen Meadows. The school is waiting for a survey to be done on that and I hope the Minister will also progress that matter for it.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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It is clear from the statistics we have many more Irish-medium primary schools than post-primary schools. We will be conducting a survey shortly with primary schools to get a clear assessment of whether we have that figure right or whether we need to do more. I want to ensure that will feed into the possible demand and increased need for post-primary schools or Gaelcholáistí. It is about providing choice. It is about ensuring those who wish to study through the medium of Irish and whose parents wish to choose that their child goes to a Gaelscoil have that choice and have that choice in their area. I mentioned earlier something that comes up regularly with me, or has done in the past number of weeks on this issue, is that there potentially needs to be a greater catchment area and number of feeder schools when we are looking at the criteria for whether there is a demand for a school or Gaelcholáiste in an area.

As I said, it has been assessed at a lower number when it comes to the overall school population that is required, namely 400, 600 to 1,000 for a post-primary school set up not through the medium of Irish, but that is what the overall review is examining and the engagement has discussed. I hope to set out whether there will be any changes in the months ahead.

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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That is exactly the issue that has led me to ask this question, namely the criteria and how the Department assesses whether there is a demand. In my constituency, as I said there are two Gaelcholáistí colocated, Coláiste Íosagáin and Coláiste Eoin, but there is an enormous demand because although there are only two Gaelscoileanna in the adjacent areas - it must be remembered that in Dublin constituencies there are more condensed geographic areas - there is a demand for secondary education trí mheán na Gaeilge.

In Cherrywood in south Dublin, a site is earmarked for a school. As far as I know, planning and everything else has been done. The Department has yet to decide on the patronage for the school. The problem is that if the Department uses a narrow geographic criteria which it currently uses, it will only ask the community immediately adjacent to Cherrywood. Of course, Cherrywood is on the Luas and is at the end of many bus lines. Therefore, there is easy access to the area for a much wider geographic community. I need the Department to look at wider criteria and the widespread community of people whose children are in Gaelscoileanna nó a labhraíonn Gaeilge sa bhaile so that they can be included in those criteria.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I am aware that there has been engagement in the Cherrywood area, not just regarding primary but also post-primary schools. Decisions are yet to be made. The most important thing is that we do everything we can to provide choice and opportunities for young people. That is exactly what I am committed to.

The programme for Government sets out very clearly that we need to do more. As I mentioned in an earlier response, it is not just about the buildings; it is also about making sure we support our teachers and school leaders and that the curriculum is modern and supports young people in the best way possible. Young people enjoy learning Irish and we can have more fluent speakers where possible, if that is what is wanted by our student population. All of the work that is being done at the moment will feed into the new plan I hope to publish in September. I look forward to engaging with the Deputy and other colleagues on that.