Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Policy on Gaeltacht Education was published in 2016 with the aim of supporting and promoting the use of the Irish language in Gaeltacht communities by strengthening Irish-medium educational provision in Gaeltacht language-planning areas.

The Gaeltacht School Recognition Scheme is the cornerstone of the Policy on Gaeltacht Education. It gives schools in Gaeltacht language planning areas the opportunity to seek recognition as Gaeltacht Schools. Schools must meet specific language-based criteria in order to achieve that recognition. Additional targeted supports are provided to schools to support them in implementing the Scheme. 102 primary schools and 29 post-primary schools in the Gaeltacht are participating in the Scheme in the 2023/24 school year.

The following supports are provided to schools participating in the Scheme:

• an annual grant of €1,200 for the purchase of Irish-language resources
• additional language support hours for Irish in accordance with school enrolment
• allocation of additional teaching hours and a once-off grant of €5,000 for post-primary Gaeltacht schools participating in the e-Hub project for Leaving Certificate Physics and/or Chemistry
• allocation of an additional teacher to each of the two post-primary Gaeltacht schools selected to participate in the Forás pilot language development project for junior cycle students
• targeted advisory support from the Inspectorate
• additional support provided by COGG’s education officers.

Work on the development a new policy on Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht is continuing in my Department. This work will build on the achievements of the Policy on Gaeltacht Education.

A 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 consultation process consisted of three phases: an online questionnaire and a call for written submissions, a series of focus groups (including focus groups in primary and post-primary schools), and bilateral meetings with key stakeholder organisations.

Sealbhú, a research centre in DCU, has carried out an analysis of the information gathered throughout the consultation and has prepared a series of reports to inform the development of the policy. These reports, which were published in May 2024, provide an overview of the views, opinions and recommendations shared with the Department in the various stages of the public consultation.

A review of national and international literature has also been conducted by Sealbhú and the research focuses on teaching through the medium of minority languages in various jurisdictions.

In developing the new policy, the Department will draw on these reports and research, as well as the information shared by stakeholders in bilateral meetings. This information will be considered in light of existing provision for Irish-medium education and estimated demand within the education system, as well as the context of the Department’s budgetary and legislative conditions.

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.