Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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77. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills cad é an dul chun cinn atá déanta maidir leis an bplean chun polasaí cuimsitheach don Ghaeilge sa chóras oideachais, ó leibhéal an oideachais réamhscoile go leibhéal an oideachais do mhúinteoirí, a fhorbairt agus a fhoilsiú; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [49858/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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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 ghealltanas Chlár an Rialtais maidir le forbairt pholasaí chuimsitheach don Ghaeilge sa chóras oideachais a chomhlíonadh. Déanfar an polasaí don oideachas lán-Ghaeilge a fhorbairt i gcomhthéacs na Straitéise 20 bliain don Ghaeilge 2010-2030.

I measc na príomhspriocanna atá ag an bpolasaí don oideachas lán-Ghaeilge lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht tá:

- creat a sholáthar chun oideachas ardchaighdeáin trí mheán na Gaeilge a chur ar fáil i nGaelscoileanna agus i nGaelcholáistí agus i suíomhanna luathfhoghlama agus cúraim (naíonraí) lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht

- an líon leanaí agus daoine óga atá ag freastal ar scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge a mhéadú, lena n-áirítear tógáil ar an mbunchloch a leagadh síos i suíomhanna luathfhoghlama agus cúraim lán-Ghaeilge (naíonraí)

- na deiseanna a bhaineann le méadú bunú Gaelscoileanna agus Gaelcholáistí mar chuid den phróiseas pátrúnachta a mheas

- polasaí soiléir a fhorbairt ar bhunú agus ar inbhuanaitheacht Aonaid/Sruthanna trí mheán na Gaeilge in iar-bhunscoileanna lán-Bhéarla chun an soláthar oideachais trí mheán na Gaeilge a neartú

- iniúchadh a dhéanamh ar an gcaoi inar féidir an soláthar múinteoirí agus baill foirne eile a bhfuil ardchaighdeán Gaeilge acu a mhéadú chun freastal ar an éileamh i suíomhanna oideachais trí mheán na Gaeilge

- féachaint ar bhealaí le rannpháirtíocht an phobail i scoileanna agus suíomhanna luathfhoghlama agus cúraim lán-Ghaeilge a threisiú.

Tá coiste stiúrtha bunaithe le hionadaithe ó na Ranna agus Gníomhaireachtaí Rialtais ábhartha chun maoirseacht a dhéanamh ar fhorbairt an pholasaí.

Tá athbhreithniú ar an litríocht náisiúnta agus idirnáisiúnta coimisiúnaithe trí phróiseas soláthair phoiblí le bheith mar bhonn eolais d’fhorbairt an pholasaí

Cuirfear próiseas comhairliúcháin phoiblí ar bun sna míonna amach romhainn chun tuairimí páirtithe leasmhara amhail daoine óga, a dtuismitheoirí, foireann agus ceannairí scoile agus eagraíochta Gaeilge a fháil.

Táim ag súil leis an obair thábhachtach seo a thabhairt chun cinn, chun an t-oideachas lán-Ghaeilge a neartú agus chun tógáil ar na torthaí dearfacha atá á mbaint amach cheana féin i gcur i bhfeidhm an Pholasaí don Oideachas Gaeltachta. Táim ag súil freisin le bheith ag obair leis na páirtithe leasmhara ábhartha chun na céimeanna éagsúla is gá chun an polasaí a fhorbairt a chur chun cinn.

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Answer

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. The policy on Irish-medium education will be developed in the context of the overall framework of the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030.

The key objectives of the policy on Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht include:

- the provision of a framework for the delivery of high-quality Irish-medium education in Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí and in Irish-medium early learning and care settings (naíonraí) outside of the Gaeltacht

- increasing the proportion of children and young people attending Irish-medium schools, including by building on the foundations laid in Irish-medium early learning and care settings (naíonraí)

- considering how opportunities for the establishment of Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí can be increased as part of the patronage process

- developing a clear policy on the establishment and sustainability of Aonaid/Sruthanna (Units/Streams) in existing English-medium post-primary schools to strengthen Irish-medium education provision

- examining how the supply of teachers and other staff with a high standard of Irish can be increased to meet demand in Irish-medium education settings

- looking at ways to deepen community engagement around Irish-medium schools and early learning and care settings.

A steering committee has been established with representatives from relevant Government Departments and Agencies to oversee the development of the policy.

A review of national and international literature has been commissioned through a public procurement process, to inform the development of the policy.

A public consultation process will take place in the coming months to gather the views of stakeholders, including young people, their parents, school staff and leaders, and Irish-language stakeholders.

I look forward to progressing this important work of strengthening Irish-medium educational provision and building on the positive outcomes already being achieved in the implementation of the Policy on Gaeltacht Education. I also look forward to working with relevant stakeholders in the development of this policy.