Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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116. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 77 and 138 of 11 October 2022, if she will provide an update on the development of a new policy on Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht; the timeline for the public consultation; the topics that were discussed at the October 2022 meeting of the steering committee; the timeline for the publication of the new policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58253/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The public consultation process to inform the development of the new policy on Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht was launched on 27 October 2022. The first phase of the consultation, which involves an online questionnaire and written submissions, will be open until 16 January 2023. The questionnaire is available on gov.ie/POLG and is open to all who wish to make submissions.

Further phases of the consultation will commence in 2023 and will involve further engagement with stakeholders in the form of focus groups, bilateral meetings and a Policy Forum. The consultation process will gather the views of stakeholders, including young people, parents, school staff and leaders, education stakeholders and Irish-language stakeholders.

The Steering Committee overseeing the development of the policy last met in October 2022. The main topic of discussion was the progress on the work on developing the policy and included:

- Report on existing Irish-medium education provision

- An outline of the public consultation process

- Review of national and international research and literature

- Research on Aonaid/Sruthanna

It is expected that the new policy will be published some time in 2023. This will depend on the outcome of the consultation process and on the recommendations from the review of national and international research currently being conducted on behalf of my department by Sealbhú in DCU.

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.