Written answers
Tuesday, 10 October 2023
Department of Education and Skills
Oideachas trí Ghaeilge
Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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230. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a Gaelcholáiste will be provided for an area of Dublin (details supplied). [44052/23]
Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, including Child Benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise.
Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may be provided through:
- Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
- Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
- Provision of a new school or schools.
The year of establishment, patronage model and language of instruction have yet to be determined for the new post-primary schools announced to serve the following two School Planning Areas in the general South Dublin area: Dublin 2_ Dublin 4; and Sallynoggin_Killiney_DLR/Cherrywood.
While it is expected that the existing Gaelcholáistí in the general South Dublin area between them have sufficient school places to accommodate demand in the short term, given the number of new gaelscoileanna which have opened in recent years, or are planned to open in this area, my Department is keeping the position under active review as these schools grow and the number of sixth class pupils in gaelscoileanna increases. The opportunities for expansion of provision at existing gaelcholáistí such as Coláiste Eoin and Coláiste Íosagáin is also relevant. My Department met with representatives of the school patron of Coláiste Eoin and Coláiste Íosagáin and is arranging for a technical assessment of the school properties.
The new policy on Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht, which is currently being developed by the Department, has as one of its key objectives to explore how opportunities for the establishment of Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí can be increased as part of the patronage process.
A public consultation commenced in October 2022 to inform the development of this new policy. This comprised an online questionnaire, a call for written submissions, and a series of focus groups. The information collected in the consultation process is being analysed by the Sealbhú research institute in DCU. Bilateral meetings were also held between an tAonad um Oideachas Gaeltachta and key stakeholders.
A number of pieces of research will also inform the development of the policy:
- A review of national and international research on minority language education (Sealbhú, DCU)
- Research on Irish-medium Aonaid and Sruthanna (Units and Streams) in English-medium schools (a team of researchers from UCC, Mary Immaculate and Munster Technological University)
- A report on current provision for Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht (Department of Education).Two composite reports on inspection findings on the quality of educational provision in Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí (Department of Education).
Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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231. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will outline her plans to grow the number of children accessing secondary school education through Irish. [44053/23]
Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Policy on Gaeltacht Education, which is being implemented by my Department, has contributed to strengthening Irish-medium education provision in Gaeltacht language-planning areas around the country.
Under the policy, 29 Gaeltacht post-primary schools (as well as 103 primary schools) are participating in the Gaeltacht School Recognition Scheme and receive targeted supports to strengthen and enhance the delivery of Irish-medium education.
Students in Gaeltacht post-primary schools also have the opportunity to participate in the e-Hub Project, which allows them to study Leaving Certificate Physics or Chemistry through the medium of Irish via remote learning, thereby extending the range of subjects available in these schools.
By developing and strengthening the delivery of Irish-medium education in our Gaeltacht post-primary schools, the numbers enrolled in these schools will increase over time.
In addition to the work on the Policy on Gaeltacht Education, work on the development of a new policy for Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht is in progress in my Department. The key objectives of the policy are in accordance with the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 and the Programme for Government, and include increasing the proportion of children and young people attending Irish-medium schools.
An extensive public consultation process has been conducted to gather the views of stakeholders, including young people, parents, education professionals, education stakeholders and Irish-language organisations.
The new policy will also be informed by current research, which includes:
-A report giving an overview of provision for Irish-medium education outside of Gaeltacht areas was compiled and published by my Department.
-Research on Irish-medium Aonaid and Sruthanna (Units and Streams) in English-medium schools is being carried out on behalf of my Department.
-Two composite reports on inspection findings on the quality of educational provision in Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí, covering the period 2017 to 2020, were published in spring 2021. These reports provide a helpful insight into relevant themes related to practice in schools.
I look forward to progressing this important work of strengthening Irish-medium education provision both within and outside of the Gaeltacht.
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