Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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883. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider producing a policy for the Irish language in the youth work sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59856/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Education and Youth recognises the importance of supporting the Irish language within the youth work sector and is committed to exploring opportunities to strengthen this area. Currently, the Youth Affairs Unit supports Irish language youth work through its core funding schemes and targeted initiatives.

The Youth Services Grant Scheme (YSGS) is the principal funding stream for universal youth work, supporting 35 national and regional organisations to deliver services, build sectoral capacity, and uphold standards. It currently includes two Irish language youth organisations — Feachtas and Ógras — which promote Irish language and culture through youth work. The scheme is undergoing reform to expand access to new national organisations, including Irish language youth organisations that meet eligibility criteria.

The Local Youth Club Grant Scheme (LYCGS) is the Youth Affairs Unit’s second-largest universal scheme, supporting approximately 1,200 voluntary youth clubs nationwide. Administered by education and training boards (ETBs), it provides annual grant aid to help clubs deliver youth work activities in their communities. The scheme is open to all voluntary youth clubs and currently supports several Irish language clubs nationwide. This promotes linguistic inclusion and cultural relevance in local provision.

The Youth Affairs Unit is also funding a research pilot on the role of Irish language youth workers in Gaeltacht communities. This evidence-informed initiative is being delivered in partnership with Mayo and Sligo and Leitrim ETB, Kerry ETB, Muintearas, and Údarás na Gaeltachta. The three-year project is underway in Mhaigh Eo Thuaidh, Corca Dhuibhne, and Uíbh Ráthach, where youth workers are evaluating their practice using a shared methodology. The research explores how young people engage with youth services through Irish, and the social and personal benefits of these interventions. Findings will inform future youth work and Irish language policy and practice.

In terms of broader policy context, the department is currently working within the framework of two national strategies and one action plan that guide its approach to Irish language youth work.

The 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010–2030 highlights the critical role of youth services in sustaining Irish as a community language, particularly in the Gaeltacht. It states, “in order to address the threat to the sustainability of the Gaeltacht as a linguistic entity, priority will be given to language planning activities necessary to stabilise the position of Irish as the community language”. These plans include specific actions under the heading of youth services, such as the promotion of language awareness among young people. In line with this, the department currently funds Tionscnamh Óige Mhuintearais under the UBU Your Place Your Space scheme. Based in Leitir Móir, Galway, the service provides targeted support to young people aged 10–24 across South Connemara, addressing issues such as social marginalisation, mental health, and drug and alcohol misuse. It also delivers workshops for young people who are unemployed or not in education, employment or training (NEETs), with a strong emphasis on cultural and linguistic inclusion through Irish.

The department’s Opportunities for Youth strategy also provides a policy framework for youth work provision in Irish. Action 4 commits to ensuring a range of opportunities for young people across schemes and services, with a focus on key themes including mental and social wellbeing, supports for NEETs, inclusion and outreach, participation in arts and culture, civic engagement, and the digital environment. These themes are highly relevant to Irish language youth work, particularly in Gaeltacht and minority-language communities. Action 5 calls on funded organisations and delivery bodies to proactively communicate and promote available opportunities, including through digital engagement tools. This responds directly to feedback from young people about limited awareness of services in their area and supports greater visibility of Irish language youth work.

The national consultation held earlier this year, to inform the forthcoming Action Plan for Irish in English-Medium Schools, delivered a clear message: children and young people said they wanted to learn Irish, to be able to speak it and to have more opportunities to use Irish both in and beyond the classroom.

As part of this work, it is intended that the Youth Affairs Unit will lead on actions relating to Irish language youth provision in the action plan.

Overall, these commitments reflect a growing recognition across Government of the need to support Irish language youth work. The department will continue to engage with relevant stakeholders and monitor developments in this area as part of its broader work to promote inclusion and cultural participation among young people.