Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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888. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the actions her Department is taking to provide Irish-medium education in the counties in which no such provision currently exists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20100/22]

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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889. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department will reform the school patronage process at post-primary level to reflect the current process at primary level for the pre-designation of new schools as Irish-medium in which no school currently exists. [20101/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 888 and 889 together.

As part of the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030, my Department has committed to creating opportunities for expanding Irish-medium education outside the Gaeltacht in the context of the announcements since April 2018 on the establishment of 47 new schools from 2019, which affords particular consideration to the establishment of Gaelscoileanna, Gaelcholáistí, and Aonaid Lán-Ghaeilge as part of the patronage process for new schools.

New schools are established by the Department on the basis of identified demographic demand in an area, and after consideration of the capacity of existing schools to absorb the expected school place demand.

In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, including Child Benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.

Major new residential developments in a school planning area have the potential to alter demand in that area. In that regard, as part of the demographic exercises, the Department engages with each of the local authorities to obtain the up-to-date information on significant new residential development in each area. 

The Department additionally consults with school patron bodies in order to identify areas with pressures on enrolments.

Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, be provided through:

- Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,

- Extending the  capacity of a school or schools,

- Provision of a new school or schools.

A patronage process is run after it has been decided, based on demographic analysis, that a new school is required. The patronage process is open to all patron bodies and prospective patrons. The Online Patronage Process System (OPPS) has been developed by my Department to provide objective information to parents which will allow them to make an informed choice about their preferred model of patronage as well as language of instruction, i.e. Irish or English, of new schools. Parental preferences, as well as other considerations such as the extent of diversity of provision in an area (including Irish-medium provision), are key to the decision-making process and to whether at post-primary level a school would take the form of an Irish-medium Gaelcholáiste or whether, if English-medium, the school would include an Irish-medium unit or “Aonad”.

Most new post-primary schools must have a student enrolment capacity of 600 – 1,000 students.  A lower threshold of 400 students may apply to Gaelcholáistí, having regard to the alternative of establishing an Aonad within a school.

My Department is currently developing a new policy on Irish-medium education outside of Gaeltacht areas.  The aim of this policy is to provide a framework for the provision of high quality Irish-medium education outside of Gaeltacht areas. The new policy will build on the progress which has been made in the development of the Irish-medium education sector as a result of the implementation of the  Policy on Gaeltacht Education.  The key objectives of the policy are in accordance with the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish language 2010-2030 and the Programme for Government 2020 and include considering how opportunities for the establishment of Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí can be increased; and developing a clear policy on the establishment of Aonaid lán-Ghaeilge in existing English-medium post-primary schools to strengthen Irish-medium educational provision.  An interdepartmental working group was established within my Department in 2021 to progress this important work.  A steering group, comprised of relevant stakeholders, has been established to oversee the development of the new policy and to facilitate key stakeholder involvement in its development. The first meeting of the steering group took place recently. I am looking forward to working with the steering group and other relevant interested parties to progress this important work.

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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890. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department will provide extra supports and funding for schools which operate and those seeking to open Aonad units. [20102/22]

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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891. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the policy initiatives of her Department to aid schools which wish to transition from operating Aonad units to become fully Irish-medium schools. [20103/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 890 and 891 together.

A new policy for Irish-medium Education outside of Gaeltacht areas is being developed by my Department. The aim of this policy is to provide a framework for the provision of high quality Irish-medium education outside of Gaeltacht areas. The new policy will build on the progress which has been made in the development of the Irish-medium education sector as a result of the implementation of the  Policy on Gaeltacht Education.  A steering group, comprised of relevant stakeholders, has been established to oversee the development of the new policy and to facilitate key stakeholder involvement in its development. The first meeting of the steering group took place recently. The group will be tasked with the oversight of a consultation process to encourage the widespread participation of interested parties in the policy development process.

Currently, in addition to the normal teacher allocation, schools with an Aonad receive an allocation of 1 WTE (whole time equivalent post) in respect of the Aonad and 0.18 WTE in respect of the Muinteoir i bhFeidhl post within the Aonad. The Department has acknowledged that the structures around the support and development of Aonaid require greater examination and clarification. This will be considered in the development of the new policy on Irish-medium education outside the Gaeltacht. I am looking forward to working with the steering group and other relevant interested parties to progress this important work.