Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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139. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider introducing a funding stream in her Department in order that all secondary school students would be entitled to have a free Irish college experience at least once during their schooling; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39852/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Under the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language, the Department of Education and Youth is committed to improving the teaching and learning of Irish in primary and post-primary schools. The department invests strongly in Irish and continues to support Irish in a wide range of ways across areas such as Initial Teacher Education, Teacher Professional Learning, Curriculum and Assessment and the development of resources. Two Units have been established in the Department to support Irish in primary and post-primary schools, one for Gaeltacht Education and one for Irish in English-medium schools. The department is currently developing a Policy for Irish-medium education and a two-year Action Plan for Irish in English-medium schools. Both will support children and young people to be more proficient in Irish and provide them with better opportunities to use Irish.I am aware that thousands of post-primary students attend summer courses in the Gaeltacht each year and really benefit from the cultural, language and social experiences provided in the courses and the opportunities to speak Irish. The department’s Inspectorate continues to support these courses by working closely with the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht in advising on and monitoring the quality of the courses.

It is important to have a multifaceted and flexible approach in relation to giving students opportunities for immersive experiences in the Irish language outside of school that takes account of the needs, preferences and geographical location of students, existing opportunities and the funding available. As the Action Plan for Irish in English-medium schools is being developed, the department is considering in collaboration with relevant organisations how to increase awareness of and encourage the participation of young people in existing opportunities for authentic communication in Irish outside of school. These options include participation in Irish language youth clubs and other local Irish language organisations, and summer courses or camps within and outside the Gaeltacht. This will include supporting increased awareness of the Gaeltacht summer course scholarships for students in DEIS post-primary schools that are funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht. Any potential consideration of the extension of supports for secondary school students to attend Gaeltacht summer courses will be subject to the availability of resources in the normal manner.