Written answers
Wednesday, 16 July 2025
Department of Education and Skills
Irish Language
Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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88. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of reinstating the allowance for teaching in Irish for teachers working in Irish-medium schools. [39856/25]
Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Following a Government Decision in September 2012, my Department implemented the outcome of the review of allowances and premium payments by the then Department of Public Expenditure Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation. As a result, many allowances were no longer payable to many new public service entrants including “new entrant” teachers. Among the allowances that had sanction for payment to new beneficiaries removed was the Teaching through Irish Allowance.
The Public Service Agreement (PSA) 2024-2026 provides for a local bargaining provision where employers and trade unions/associations may negotiate additional changes in rates of pay and/or conditions of employment. Over the course of recent collective agreements, amendments have been agreed which have seen the value of certain allowances previously withdrawn being integrated into new entrant teacher pay. Examples are the equivalent of an honour’s primary degree allowance and the PME allowance.
Additional amendments to Teacher Terms and Conditions, including pay and allowances, give rise to significant cost issues and can only be achieved through engagement and collective bargaining agreements between the Government and the public service unions or through the Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC) forum.
In terms of the possible reintroduction of this allowance, this is one of the matters that may come under consideration under the local bargaining provision of the PSA 2024-2026 and as matters under industrial relations processes are confidential to the parties it would not be appropriate for me to comment any further at this time.
Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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89. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost to develop a comprehensive plan to be developed and implemented for Irish-medium education and to increase the provision of Irish-medium education from 6% to 20% over a 20-year period. [39857/25]
Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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We have committed in the Programme for Government to expanding opportunities for pupils and students to attend Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí, to establishing Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí where there is demand, and also to supporting parents choosing Irish-medium education for their children.
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 was conducted to inform the policy. The department commissioned Sealbhú, a research centre in DCU, to analyse the information gathered through the consultation, and to conduct a review of national and international literature in relation to teaching through the medium of minority languages.
Officials in my department are drawing on the insights gained from this consultation process, and from the research undertaken in developing the new policy. 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’s budgetary and legislative context. Funding for actions under the policy will be requested through the department’s annual estimates process.
A task force is due to be established as an action under this policy to explore the various models of Irish-medium education provision that exist, and to facilitate collaboration between the department and key stakeholders in re-conceptualising the current models of provision, if necessary. Consideration of teacher supply for Irish-medium education will also be a crucial factor in the work of the task force and in the provision of high-quality education in the sector.
I expect to receive a draft of the policy in the coming weeks for my review. If I am satisfied with the draft received, it is intended that the policy will be published in autumn 2025.
Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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90. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of establishing an expert group to develop policy for the Irish language in the early education system from early childhood to third level, based on the Common European Framework of Reference. [39858/25]
Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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My department is taking a progressive, sequenced approach to developing a comprehensive policy for the Irish language in the education system. As it relates to the Department of Education and Youth, there are three strands to this work: the Policy on Gaeltacht Education; the policy on Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht; and the action plan to support the teaching and learning of Irish in English-medium schools. Taken together, these policies and initiatives are important steps towards the provision of a comprehensive policy for the Irish language in the education system.
Significant progress has been made in implementing the Policy on Gaeltacht Education, and 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 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 Irish Language Unit for English-medium Schools is working on the development of an action plan for Irish in English-medium schools to be implemented within a two-year period, September 2025-2027. It will support primary and post-primary schools in implementing existing curriculum specifications to provide better learning experiences of Irish and increase the use of Irish among children and young people. This action plan is informed by an extensive consultation at national and school level. It is also informed by research and by the approach taken to language planning for minority languages in other jurisdictions.
In parallel to the work being carried out by my department, the Department of Children, Diversity and Equality, 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 the policies are in alignment.
I expect to receive a draft of the policy on Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht and the action plan for Irish in English-medium schools in the coming weeks for my review. If I am satisfied with the drafts received, it is intended that the policy and action plan will be published in autumn 2025.
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