Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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156. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide primary and post-primary enrolment numbers in County Kildare for the years 2022 to 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55796/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Please find attached requested data.

Data is collated from the final primary and post-primary enrolment lists for years 2022 to 2024, 2024 being the latest year we have final enrolment data. The lists can be found at the link below.

www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/collections/data-on-individual-schools/.

Enrolments are tied to the census date 30th of September in each academic year for primary and post-primary enrolments.

Primary Schools

Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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157. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of pupils enrolled in Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí in County Kildare for the years 2022 to 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55797/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Please find attached requested data.

Data is collated from the final primary and post-primary enrolment lists for years 2022 to 2024, 2024 being the latest year we have final enrolment data. The lists can be found at the link below.

www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/collections/data-on-individual-schools/.

Enrolments are tied to the census date 30th of September in each academic year for primary and post-primary enrolments.

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 at an advanced stage 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 have drawn on the insights gained from this consultation process, and from the research in developing the new policy. The information gleaned from the consultation has been 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.

A taskforce 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 taskforce and in the provision of high-quality education in the sector.

Gaelscoileanna