Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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157. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding any initiatives that seek to increase the provision of Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí at a national level; her views on the importance of offering parents this option of school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38828/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government includes commitments to expand opportunities for students to attend Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí, to establish Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí where there is demand, and to support 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 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.

In addition to this, my department has just published a comprehensive Education Plan 2025 that outlines a significant body of work being undertaken this year to deliver for everyone in our school and youth services’ communities.

There are over 100 actions in this plan including a commitment to launch a survey of primary school parents and guardians and parents and guardians of children not yet in school on their preferences on important aspects of school provision and choice, such as the demand for education through Irish at their school. It is intended to launch the survey in Quarter 3 of 2025. Further details will be announced in due course .