Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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495. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on efforts to develop an Irish language policy for the pre-school education system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52832/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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There is much value in supporting the provision of services in the Irish language to children at an early age. Early learning and childcare services play an important role here, in particular in promoting Irish as a living language.

My Department is working closely with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and the Department of Education to implement a comprehensive set of actions that were agreed as part of the 5-Year Action Plan for the Irish Language 2018-2022. These actions are designed to affirm the importance that early learning and childcare settings have in encouraging the development and revitalisation of the Irish language. The aim of these actions is to build on the existing measures, supports and partnerships in place in the area of Irish-medium early learning and childcare, and to further improve these supports and services.

In line with the commitments in the 5-Year Action Plan, my Department earlier this year appointed an Irish Medium Support Coordinator who has responsibility for coordinating the work to support the development and use of the Irish language in Irish-medium early learning and childcare settings. This coordinator will guide the appointment of another Irish-medium specialist post in the coming months.

My Department is also leading work, in collaboration with other Departments and agencies, on a mapping of existing Irish-medium provision of early learning and childcare services. This mapping will inform the development of a comprehensive plan for the sector, in line with the commitment in the 5-Year Action Plan.