Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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463. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will increase provision to improve Gaeloideachas, including possible tax incentives for teachers who teach through Irish only in all-Irish medium schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2013/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Work is currently underway in my Department to develop a new policy on Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht. One of the key objectives of this policy, among other things, is examining how the supply of teachers and other staff with a high standard of Irish can be increased to meet demand in Irish-medium education settings.

In order to inform the development of the policy, a comprehensive public consultation process was conducted to gather the views of stakeholders, including young people, parents and guardians, education professionals, education stakeholders and Irish-language organisations. Sealbhú, a research centre in DCU, carried out an analysis of the information gathered throughout the consultation and a review of national and international literature.

The policy, together with an action plan, is currently being developed by officials of my Department. In developing the policy, my Department is drawing on the various reports prepared by Sealbhú, and on information shared by stakeholders in bilateral meetings and at a consultation event held in September 2024. This information is being considered in light of the existing provision for Irish-medium education and the estimated demand in the education system, questions in relation to teacher supply, as well as the department’s budgetary and legislative context.

In terms of the possible reintroduction of any allowance, additional amendments to Teacher Terms and Conditions, can only be achieved through engagement and collective bargaining agreements between the government and the public service unions.

The current pay agreement, Public Service Agreement 2024-2026 provides for a local bargaining process to deal with outstanding adjudications, commitments, recommendations, awards and claims which may include allowances.

Any further amendments to alter the allowances paid to teachers, whether “new entrant” or not, give rise to significant cost issues and should be part of engagement and collective agreements between unions and government.

Matters relating to tax incentives would be better answered by the Minister for Finance.