Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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754. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his views on the vital work that Cuntóir Teanga do within the education system under the Cúntóirí Teanga scheme; and if he has plans to ensure that these staff are paid during mid-term and all other school holidays as well as access to a pension. [52987/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has funded Scéim na gCúntóirí Teanga in Gaeltacht Schools for many years. In recent years, the scheme has been extended to Gaelscoileanna in Gaeltacht Service Towns and Irish Language Networks outside of the Gaeltacht areas.

There are approximately 120 Cúntóirí Teanga (Language Assistants) currently working in schools within and outside the Gaeltacht areas in the context of the language planning process. The Department recognises the importance and value of the work carried out by the Cúntóirí Teanga in schools, and in recognition of this, has implemented a number of changes to the Scheme over the last number of years to improve the working conditions of the Assistants.

Work is currently underway to form a new agreement for the next 3 school years. The three organisations who administer the scheme on behalf of the Department will be consulted during this process to determine ways to strengthen and develop the scheme as part of the new agreement.

It should also be noted that there has been pay increases of 20% approved by me and my predecessors over the last 4 years to the Cúntóirí Teanga, with hourly rates rising from €21.20 in the 2021/2022 school year to €25.52 for the 2025/2026 school year.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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755. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the estimated cost of providing payment to Cuntóir Teanga during the school holidays including mid-term, Easter, summer, Halloween and Christmas breaks. [52988/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has funded Scéim na gCúntóirí Teanga in Gaeltacht Schools for many years. In recent years, the scheme has been extended to Gaelscoileanna in Gaeltacht Service Towns and Irish Language Networks outside of the Gaeltacht areas.

The scheme has been extended for the current school year and work is currently underway on drafting a new 3 year agreement with the organisations administering the scheme on my department's behalf. The organisations who administer the scheme on behalf of the Department will be consulted during this process to determine ways to strengthen and develop the scheme as part of the new agreement.

It is conservatively estimated that an additional cost of approximately €1.2m per annum would be required to provide payments to the Cuntóirí Teanga during the school holidays which includes mid-term, Easter, Summer, Halloween and Christmas breaks.

It should also be noted that there has been pay increases of 20% approved by me and my predecessors over the last 4 years to the Cúntóirí Teanga, with hourly rates rising from €21.20 in the 2021/2022 school year to €25.52 for the 2025/2026 school year.