Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

418. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills maidir leis an bpolasaí nua atá beartaithe don Ghaeilge sa chóras oideachais ón réamhscoil go dtí an tríú leibhéal: cad é líon na n-uaireanta atá caite ag an ngrúpa idir-rannach air go dtí seo; cad é líon na n-uaireanta atá caite ag an ngrúpa stiúrtha air go dtí seo; an scríobhtar miontuairiscí chruinnithe an ghrúpa idir-rannaigh; an scríobhtar miontuairiscí chruinnithe an ghrúpa stiúrtha; cathain a fhoilseofar an polasaí nua; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [49907/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Tá obair ar siúl anois i mo Roinnse chun polasaí nua don oideachas lán-Ghaeilge lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht a fhorbairt. Tógfaidh an polasaí seo ar an méid atá bainte amach ag an bPolasaí don Oideachas Gaeltachta, agus beidh sé mar chéim thábhachtach eile i dtreo ghealltanais Chlár an Rialtais maidir le forbairt pholasaí cuimsitheach don Ghaeilge sa chóras oideachais a chomhlíonadh.

Tá coiste stiúrtha bunaithe le hionadaithe ó na Ranna agus Gníomhaireachtaí Rialtais ábhartha chun maoirseacht a dhéanamh ar fhorbairt an pholasaí. Tionóladh an chéad chruinniú den Choiste Stiúrtha ag 11:00 rn ar an 13 Aibreán 2022. Tionólfar an chéad chruinniú eile ar an 18 Deireadh Fómhair 2022. Is féidir liom a dheimhniú go scríobhtar miontuairiscí chruinnithe an Choiste Stiúrtha.

Tionóladh an chéad chruinniú den Ghrúpa Oibre Ionrannach ar 10 Meán Fómhair 2021. Tionóladh dhá chruinniú dhéag san iomlán go dtí seo. Is féidir liom a dheimhniú freisin go scríobhtar miontuairiscí chruinnithe an Ghrúpa Oibre Ionrannaigh.

Cuirfear próiseas comhairliúcháin phoiblí ar bun sna míonna amach romhainn chun tuairimí páirtithe leasmhara ar nós daoine óga, tuismitheoirí, foireann agus ceannairí scoile agus eagraíochta Gaeilge a fháil. Tá athbhreithniú ar an litríocht náisiúnta agus idirnáisiúnta coimisiúnaithe trí phróiseas soláthair phoiblí agus beidh an t-athbhreithniú seo mar bhonn eolais d’fhorbairt an pholasaí. Beidh an tréimhse ama d’fhoilsiú an pholasaí níos soiléire de réir mar a théann an próiseas comhairliúcháin ar aghaidh. Táthar ag súil go dtabharfar an polasaí nua chun críche in 2023.

Work on the development of a new policy on Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht is now underway in my Department. This policy will build on the achievements of the Policy on Gaeltacht Education and will be an important next step towards achieving the Programme for Government commitment to develop a comprehensive policy on Irish in the education system.

A steering committee has been established with representatives from relevant Government Departments and Agencies to oversee the development of the policy. The first meeting of the Steering Committee took place at 11:00 a.m. on 13 April 2022. The next meeting is scheduled to take place on 18 October 2022. I can confirm that minutes of steering committee meetings are taken.

The first meeting of the Intradepartmental Working Group took place on 10 September 2021. A total of twelve meetings have been held to date. I can also confirm that minutes of the Intradepartmental Working Group meetings are taken.

A public consultation process will take place in the coming months to gather the views of stakeholders, including young people, parents, school staff and leaders, and Irish-language stakeholders. A review of national and international literature has been commissioned through a public procurement process, to inform the development of the policy. The timeframe for publication of the policy will be clearer as the consultation process progresses. It is expected that the new policy will be finalised in 2023.