Written answers

Thursday, 2 February 2023

Department of Education and Skills

Pleananna Oideachais

Photo of Catherine ConnollyCatherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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145. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills maidir le Ceist Pharlaiminte Uimh. 77 den 11 Deireadh Fómhair 2022, an ndéanfaidh sí soiléiriú a thabhairt ar an dul chun cinn atá déanta maidir leis an bplean chun beartas cuimsitheach don Ghaeilge sa chóras oideachais, ó leibhéal an oideachais réamhscoile go leibhéal an oideachais do mhúinteoirí, a fhorbairt agus a fhoilsiú; an ndéanfaidh sí sonraí a thabhairt faoin gcoiste stiúrtha; cé mhéad uair a bhuail an coiste le chéile go dtí seo; an mbreactar miontuairiscí le linn cruinnithe den choiste; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [4836/23]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Tá obair ar siúl faoi láthair 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 an pholasaí chuimsithigh 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.

Bunaíodh coiste stiúrtha le hionadaithe ó na Ranna Rialtais agus ó na Gníomhaireachtaí Rialtais ábhartha chun maoirseacht a dhéanamh ar fhorbairt an pholasaí. Bhuail an coiste le chéile dhá uair go dáta agus breacadh miontuairiscí le linn na gcruinnithe.

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

Cuireadh próiseas comhairliúcháin phoiblí ar bun ar 27 Deireadh Fómhair 2022 chun tuairimí páirtithe leasmhara a fháil; daoine óga, tuismitheoirí, gairmithe oideachais, páirtithe leasmhara oideachais agus eagraíochta Gaeilge ina measc. Cuireadh deireadh leis an gcéad tréimhse den phróiseas comhairliúcháin, a chuimsigh ceistneoir ar líne agus iarraidh ar aighneachtaí scríofa, ar 30 Eanáir 2023. Chomhlánaigh tuairim is 5,500 freagróir an ceistneoir ar líne.

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 chun an polasaí a fhorbairt a chur chun cinn.

Work on the development of a new policy on Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht is currently 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.

A steering committee has been established with representatives from relevant Government Departments and Agencies to oversee the development of the policy. The committee has met twice to date and minutes were taken during the meetings.

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 commenced on 27 October 2022 to gather the views of stakeholders, including young people, parents, education professionals, education stakeholders and Irish-language organisations. The first phase of the consultation process, which included an online questionnaire and a call for written submissions, closed on 30 January 2023. Approximately 5,500 respondents completed the questionnaire.

I look forward to progressing this important work of strengthening Irish-medium education 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.

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