Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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171. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when she will take the first step towards the commitment from the current Programme for Government to develop an Irish language policy in the education system from pre-school to third level; and if she will establish an expert group to develop the policy. [37479/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is taking a staged approach to developing a comprehensive policy for the Irish language from early years education to teacher education. As it relates to the Department of Education there are three strands to this work: the Policy on Gaeltacht Education; the policy on Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht; and the work commencing on a policy framework and action plan to support Irish in English-medium schools.

Significant progress has been made in implementing the Policy on Gaeltacht Education. 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. The Gaeltacht School Recognition Scheme was launched in April 2017.

The Department is now progressing work on the development of a new policy on Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht. In order to inform the development of the policy, a comprehensive public consultation process was conducted to seek the views of stakeholders including young people, parents, education professionals, education stakeholders and Irish language organisations.

The Sealbhú research centre in DCU analysed the information gathered during the consultation and prepared a series of reports to inform policy development. These reports provide an overview of the views, opinions and suggestions shared with my Department during the various periods of public consultation.

Sealbhú was also commissioned to carry out a review of international literature to inform the policy. Their research review focuses on teaching through minority languages in jurisdictions with contexts similar to that of Irish in Ireland.

The reports prepared by Sealbhú were published by my Department in May 2024.

A policy framework document outlining the direction of the new policy has been drafted, which draws on the reports prepared by Sealbhú, as well as the information shared by stakeholders in bilateral meetings. The framework is also informed by the existing provision for Irish-medium education and future projections of demand for the education system, as well as the Department’s budgetary and legislative context. The policy framework was shared with stakeholder representatives who attended a consultation event with officials from my Department on 20 September 2024. It is intended that implementation of actions under the policy will commence during the 2024/25 school year.

A new unit has been recently established within my Department which will have a remit relating to the Irish language in English-medium schools. The policy framework and action plan to be developed by the Department’s newly established Irish Language Unit for English-medium Schools will address particular key strategic challenge points where immediate and tangible action is likely to make a difference in a reasonable period of time.

In parallel to the work being carried out by my Department, the Department of Children, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Youth is currently developing a national plan on Irish language provision in early learning and care and school-age childcare. The Departments are working closely together to ensure their policies are in alignment.

Taken together, these policies and initiatives are important steps towards achieving the Programme for Government commitment of providing a comprehensive policy for the Irish language from pre-primary education to teacher education for all schools.