Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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221. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills cén cineál caiteachais a bheadh i gceist aici a chur ar fáil don mhaoiniú a fhaigheann scoileanna a bhfuil stádas Scoile Gaeltachta acu; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [67432/25]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Bunaíodh an Scéim Aitheantais Scoileanna Gaeltachta in 2017 chun tacú le scoileanna i limistéir pleanála teanga Ghaeltachta oideachas lán-Ghaeilge ar ardchaighdeán a chur ar fáil dá bpobail. Ní mór do scoileanna critéir shonracha theangabhunaithe a chomhlíonadh chun aitheantas oifigiúil mar Scoil Ghaeltachta a bhaint amach, agus cuirtear tacaíochtaí spriocdhírithe ar fáil do scoileanna chun cabhrú leo é sin a bhaint amach. Tá tiomantas i gClár an Rialtais 2025 - Todhchaí na hÉireann a Dhaingniú - leanúint ar aghaidh ag cur cúnaimh ar fáil tríd an Scéim Aitheantais Scoileanna Gaeltachta.

Tá 102 bhunscoil agus 28 iar-bhunscoil páirteach sa Scéim Aitheantais sa scoilbhliain 2025/26. Bronnadh aitheantas oifigiúil mar Scoil Gaeltachta ar 101 bhunscoil agus 19 iar-bhunscoil ag sraith ócáidí réigiúnacha a reáchtáladh i mí Dheireadh Fómhair 2024.

Cuirtear maoiniú ar fáil chun uaireanta tacaíochta teanga don Ghaeilge a leithdháileadh ar scoileanna faoin bPolasaí don Oideachas Gaeltachta, bunaithe ar rollachán na scoile. Tugtar deontas bliantúil €1,200 do scoileanna chomh maith chun acmhainní Gaeilge a cheannach.

Sa bhreis air sin, bíonn fáil ag scoileanna ar thacaíocht, ar chomhairle agus ar dheiseanna foghlama gairmiúla ó Chigireacht na Roinne Oideachais agus Óige, ón gComhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta & Gaelscolaíochta (COGG), agus ó Oide.

The Gaeltacht School Recognition Scheme was established in 2017 to support schools in Gaeltacht language planning areas to provide high quality Irish-medium education to their communities. Schools must meet specific language-based criteria in order to achieve official recognition as a Gaeltacht School, and targeted supports are provided to schools to help them achieve this. There is a commitment in the Programme for Government 2025 - Securing Ireland's Future - to continue to provide assistance through the Gaeltacht School Recognition Scheme.

There are 102 primary schools and 28 post-primary schools participating in the Recognition Scheme in the 2025/26 school year. 101 primary and 19 post-primary schools were officially recognised as Gaeltacht Schools at a series of regional events held in October 2024.

Funding is provided under the Policy on Gaeltacht Education to allocate language support hours for Irish to schools in the Recognition Scheme, based on the school's enrolment. Schools are also given an annual grant of €1,200 to purchase Irish language resources.

In addition, schools have access to support, advice and professional learning opportunities from the Department of Education and Youth’s Inspectorate, from An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta & Gaelscolaíochta (COGG), and from Oide.