Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)
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941. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide a draft of the Irish medium for education before official publication; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19918/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Work is currently underway in my department on the development of a new policy on Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht.

A comprehensive consultation process has been conducted to inform the policy on Irish-medium education. In excess of 5,400 questionnaires were completed; 216 children and young people and 92 adults participated in focus groups; 71 written submissions were received; and bilateral meetings were held with 29 different organisations.

The department commissioned Sealbhú, a research centre in DCU, to analyse consultation responses and to conduct a review of national and international literature in relation to teaching minority languages.

Department officials are drawing on the insights gained from this consultation process, and from the research carried out, in developing the new policy for Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht. The information gleaned from the consultation is being considered in light of existing provision for Irish-medium education, the estimated demand in the education system, as well as issues relating to teacher supply and the Department of Education's budgetary and legislative context.

The department shared a framework for the policy and gave stakeholders a further opportunity to discuss the direction of the policy at a consultation event in September 2024.

In response to feedback from stakeholders, a taskforce is due to be established under the policy to explore issues relating to the various models of Irish-medium education that exist, and to facilitate collaboration between the department and key stakeholders in re-conceptualising the current models of provision, if necessary. It is envisioned that additional opportunities for consultation in relation to the models of Irish-medium education provision will be created as a result of the work of the taskforce.

I expect to receive a draft of the policy by the end of Q2 2025 for my review. If I am satisfied with the draft received, it is intended that the policy will be published in Autumn 2025.