Keira Keogh (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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84. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which the level of demand is assessed regarding the lower threshold of 400 students to establish a new Gaelcholáiste; her plans to open a Gaelcholáiste in Castlebar, County Mayo a Gaeltacht service town, given that a community group submitted a request to her Department to establish a Gaelcholáiste in October 2023 on the basis of a projected attendance of 90 students per year (540 in total) and has yet to receive a response; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58171/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I fully support the important role that Irish-medium education plays in the promotion of the Irish language. 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 to supporting parents choosing Irish-medium education for their children.

I intend to publish a new policy for Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht shortly. A taskforce on models of provision for Irish-medium education is being established as a key action under the policy. This taskforce will facilitate collaboration between the department and stakeholders to examine the various models of Irish-medium education and to identify ways to increase the provision of Irish-medium education. Consideration of teacher supply for Irish-medium schools will be a crucial factor in the work of the taskforce and in the provision of high-quality education in the sector.

The work of this taskforce will inform the approach in considering the Irish-medium post-primary provision in areas such as Castlebar. In every area, the proximity and capacity at existing Irish-medium provision will form part of the consideration. The current good capacity at Coláiste Muire, Tuar Mhic Éadaigh, which provides post-primary education through the medium of Irish, will be relevant when examining the requirement for additional provision in the Castlebar area.