Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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80. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills cén dul chun cinn atá déanta i dtaca le beartas a fhorbairt maidir le teagasc na Gaeilge agus leis an teagasc trí Ghaeilge i scoileanna na tíre i gcomhréir leis an Stráitéis Fiche Bliain don Ghaeilge; cé na hacmhainní breise foirne agus airgeadais atá curtha ar fáil ina leith sin; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [56740/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Tá mo Roinn tiomanta chun an soláthar oideachais trí mheán na Gaeilge a threisú. Ó foilsíodh an Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge, tá dul chun cinn suntasach déanta chun tacú le forbairt agus cur i bhfeidhm an oideachais trí mheán na Gaeilge.

Tá dul chun cinn déanta ar réimse forbairtí curaclaim Gaeilge lena n-áirítear Curaclam Teanga na Bunscoile agus sonraíochtaí nua do Ghaeilge na Sraithe Sóisearaí. Tá dréacht-sonraíochtaí do Ghaeilge na hArdteistiméireachta forbartha ag an gComhairle Náisiúnta Curaclaim agus Measúnachta atá faoi phróiseas comhairliúcháin phoiblí faoi láthair.

Teacher education initiatives introduced include the increased minimum entry requirements for Irish for initial teacher education programmes and new undergraduate programmes from which graduates can register as Irish teachers. Professional development courses are also provided for teachers in the Irish-medium sector.

Since 2017, additional resources have being provided annually to NUIG to increase the number of post-primary teachers who can deliver Irish-medium education. Plans are also underway for the introduction of a new Irish-medium blended learning Professional Masters in Education programme.

COGG continues to support Irish-medium education through the provision of a range of Irish resources including text-books and a portal dedicated to supporting Gaeltacht and Irish-medium schools.

Under the Gaeltacht School Recognition Scheme, a range of additional targeted supports and resources have been provided to support the delivery of Irish-medium education in Gaeltacht schools.

In 2017, a dedicated Unit was established in my Department to oversee the implementation of the Policy on Gaeltacht Education. In the region of €20m has been made available to support the implementation of the Policy on Gaeltacht Education to date.

A new policy for Irish-medium education outside of Gaeltacht areas is also under development in my Department. The objective of this new policy is to provide a framework for the delivery of high quality Irish-medium education outside of Gaeltacht areas.

In relation to the staffing, Gaeltacht primary schools are allocated a more favourable appointment and retention staffing schedule. Gaelscoileanna outside of Gaeltacht areas are in receipt of additional capitation rate. An additional per capita bilingual grant is also paid to schools in the Voluntary Secondary sector, where instruction is through the medium of Irish in full or in part.