Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The overarching goal of my Department's Policy on Gaeltacht Education 2017-2022 isto ensure the availability of high quality Irish-medium education in Gaeltacht areas to support the use of Irish as the main language of Gaeltacht communities. The implementation of the Policy, which commenced in early 2017, provides for a range of additional supports for Gaeltacht schools to strengthen immersion education.

TheGaeltacht School Recognition Scheme, which was launched in April 2017, provides schools in Gaeltacht language-planning areas with the option to seek recognition as Gaeltacht schools on the basis of implementing specific language-based criteria and on condition that they are participating in the local language-planning processes provided for under the Gaeltacht Act.

The following package of additional supports is being provided to schools participating in the Scheme:

- access to an annual grant for the purchase of Irish-medium teaching resources

- additional support teaching hours for Irish based on school enrolment

- additional continuing professional development delivered by COGG

- additional Inspectorate support via advisory sessions/visits to support schools in their target setting and action planning in fulfilling language-based criteria to strengthen immersion education

- providing the opportunity to access Leaving Certificate Physics through the medium of Irish through participating in the online E-Hub Pilot Project

My Department published recently"A Guide for Gaeltacht Schools: Partnership with the Community in promoting the use of Irish" (Treoir do Scoileanna Gaeltachta: Comhpháirtíocht leis an bpobal chun úsáid na Gaeilge a chur chun cinn) in collaboration with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Údarás na Gaeltachta, COGG, Gaeloideachas and other relevant agencies, to provide information on how best to strengthen links, engagement, partnership and participation between the school management, the local language-planning committee and the wider community.

My Department has also published the Guide for Gaeltacht Schools: Strengthening Links between primary schools and early-learning and care settings (Naisc a threisiú idir Bunscoileanna agus Suíomhanna Luathfhoghlama agus Cúraim,which is informed by research, commissioned by An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) on behalf of my Department. This evidence-based guide provides practical advice to ensure that transition from the naíonrato the primary school is a positive experience for children in the Gaeltacht. It also recognises the crucial role of parents and guardians as primary educators and highlights the need for an integrated and co-operative approach to foster children’s use of Irish inside and outside the classroom.

In order to support schools in fulfilling the language-based criteria to achieve recognition as a Gaeltacht school, Guides for Gaeltacht Primary and Post-Primary schools: Indicators of Good Practice for Immersion Education were published in 2020. These guides provide practical support for schools and boards of management to implement high quality education through the medium of Irish and extend the use of Irish.