Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

1129. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider making provision for the establishment of a third level course for early years education through the medium of Irish in a Gaeltacht service town to ensure an adequate supply of professionals in the naíonra sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61115/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My Department recognises the importance of promoting and expanding the teaching and use of Irish at third level, including to meet workforce needs across various sectors. The Higher Education Authority Act (2022) places a statutory obligation on the HEA to support higher education institutions (HEIs) to teach, promote and use the Irish language.

HEIs are autonomous and determine themselves what programmes they offer, the language through which they are delivered, and where they are located. While my Department and the HEA can provide strategic funding and supports, we do not direct institutions to establish specific programmes in particular locations.

However, my Department is undertaking a programme of work aligned with the National Plan for Irish Language Public Services. This includes working with colleagues in relevant Government Departments to establish a sectoral working group to consider how the tertiary education sector can support the language skills required to deliver this national plan. Currently, my Department is in the process of establishing this group.

This has included engagement between officials from my Department, and officials from the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (DCDE). DCDE is currently working in collaboration with other relevant Departments and agencies to develop a national plan to further the development of Irish language provision in the early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) sector.

The development of such a plan is a commitment in the 5-Year Action Plan for the Irish Language. The national plan is expected to support the delivery of two commitments in First 5: the Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families, namely to “Introduce measures to ensure that children in Gaeltacht areas have access to Irish-medium ELC provision” and to “Develop mechanisms to provide Irish-language supports to ELC provision where there are high proportions of children who are learning through the medium of Irish”.

The plan is also expected to support the delivery of commitments in the Programme for Government to “Support naíonraí and creches to ensure early education access in Gaeltacht communities and beyond” and to “Plan the development of State-led facilities in tandem with the school building programme, including Irish-medium naíonraí”. It is intended that the Plan will be published in the coming months.

The Government is committed to working on a cross-Departmental basis to strengthen Irish-medium education across all levels, from early years to tertiary level, ensuring a joined-up and sustainable approach to promoting the Irish language.