Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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101. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when he will publish the Irish language early education policy for the Gaeltacht; if he intends to implement it in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11971/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The drafting of a Policy on Gaeltacht Education is at an advanced stage. This is a key response by my Department to the Government's Twenty Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010 – 2030. Provision for early years education in the Gaeltacht is part of the overall policy for Gaeltacht education alongside the primary and post-primary sectors.

I am awaiting the draft policy document and will consider it along with my colleagues in Government before it can be approved. I expect that this will happen in the coming weeks before our summer recess.

The Programme for Government contains a commitment to strengthen support for the Irish language. This commitment was made in anticipation of the finalisation and thereafter the implementation of the Gaeltacht Education policy.