Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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552. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if additional supports will be provided to promote the Irish language in schools and public life; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3606/25]

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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Since its publication in 2010, the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010–2030 has been the cornerstone of the Government’s policy regarding the Irish language. The Strategy sets out an integrated approach to the Irish language, with 9 areas of action listed, including education, the Gaeltacht, the family, the community, the media, technology and the economy. The relevant actions under the Strategy are being implemented by various stakeholders, including my department.

The Action Plan for the Irish Language 2018-2022 (extended to 2023 due to the global pandemic) under the 20 Year Strategy was launched in June 2018. The plan provides an overview of what has been done and what is underway to address the nine areas of action set out in the Strategy. It sets out over 180 specific measures implemented in collaboration with approximately 60 stakeholders on a cross-Departmental basis to support the Irish language and the Gaeltacht. Four reports on the implementation of the plan have been published. The latest report, which covers the period from January to December 2022, is available at the following link: www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/288794/bb02af59-88ed-401e-8883-6796a2f711c8.pdf#page=null.

The next report, due to be published shortly, will cover the period from January to December 2023. A review of the plan's implementation is scheduled to be carried out during 2025, following which a new Action Plan for the period to end 2023 will be published.

While the teaching of Irish in our schools is primarily a matter for the Minister of Education, my Department has developed and supported a number of different schemes aimed at supporting the work of her department. These include support for the Gaelbhratach Scheme administered by Gael Linn and the administration of my Department's Deis Gaeltachta and Irish Language Learners Schemes, thus supporting over 26,000 students annually to attend summer college in the Gaeltacht.

As regards the use of Irish in public life, a key element of efforts to normalise the Irish language generally and to increase the level and quality of public services provided through Irish as we move towards a bilingual public service is the implementation of the Official Languages Acts 2003 to 2021. The amended Act provides for the preparation by a statutory Advisory Committee of a National Plan for Irish Language Public Services which was published by my Department in October last year.

The Plan is the result of close collaboration at a senior level between the organisations represented on the Advisory Committee, which include my own Department as Chair, as well as the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, the Department of Education, the Department of Social Protection, the HSE, An Garda Síochána and Publicjobs, to name a few.

This National Plan, which is based on five major strategic themes, is intended to act as a roadmap for public bodies in terms of systematically increasing and improving the number and quality of Irish language public services provided. It will also provide a pathway to increasing the number of staff with Irish language competence to facilitate the provision of these services, in accordance with the target set out in the Act that at least 20% of staff recruited to public bodies will be competent in Irish by 31 December 2030. The setting of this ambitious recruitment objective will promote the use of the Irish language in schools and across the education sector generally as students see the career opportunities available to them with the language.

This National Plan is to be supported by two 3-year action plans – the first, covering the period 2025 to 2027. It is intended for that first action plan to be submitted to government for approval in the coming months.

Separately, a budget of €1.5m is available in 2025 for the provision of public service initiatives which will bolster efforts to promote use of the Irish language in public services, thus adding to the use of the language in public life.

In support of those looking to develop their Irish language skills, an Irish Language Network for the Public Sector was launched in summer 2024, with over €1m to be invested in same over the next 3 years.

Finally, planning for a largescale national awareness campaign highlighting to young people choosing their career path, the large number of diverse public job opportunities with Irish, is also at an advanced stage.