Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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307. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills whether her Department tracks the number of pupils progressing through Irish-medium primary schools in the Fingal area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50450/26]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Please find attached requested data. The table shows enrolments in a post-primary school in academic year 2025-2026 for pupils who were in 6th class in an Irish medium school in the Fingal County Council area in 2024-2025.

The Policy for Irish-Medium Education outside of the Gaeltacht was launched in November 2025. The policy sets out my department's vision that high-quality Irish-medium education will be available to all, in inclusive and multicultural educational settings. I am committed to my department working with stakeholders to achieve that vision, and to make progress towards delivering on the commitments of the Programme for Government.

The Taskforce on Models of Provision for Irish-Medium Education, which was established under the Policy for Irish-Medium Education outside of the Gaeltacht, is providing a platform for collaboration between my department and key stakeholders to identify a pathway to increase the provision of Irish-medium education. I look forward to the outcome of this taskforce to help strengthen and expand the provision of Irish-medium education.

My department conducted the Primary School Survey in late 2025. The survey, which is the largest of its kind ever undertaken in Ireland with validated responses from over 200,000 households with primary school children and/or younger children, was school specific and aimed to assess parental demand and preferences for different types of primary school provision.

Through the survey, my department has obtained clear information on the preferences of parents and guardians about the primary schools which their children currently attend, or will attend in coming years, on a number of important areas of primary school provision, including language of instruction (Irish or English).

My department provided primary schools with their school-specific results, which included the language preferences (education through Irish or through English) from the parents of their current and potential future pupils.

My department has also published the school-specific reports on the gov.ie webpages, along with a high-level report setting out a summary of the survey results at a national level, including a county breakdown. The survey results will help to support meaningful local engagement and informed decision-making at school level as to the future direction that works best for each individual school community.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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308. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills whether census data on Irish-speaking households is considered alongside actual enrolment trends in Irish-medium schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50451/26]

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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309. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which parents can formally demonstrate demand for additional Irish-medium secondary provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50452/26]

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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310. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills whether any assessment has been undertaken of the potential shortfall between Irish-medium primary and secondary school places in north Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50453/26]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 308, 309 and 310 together.

My department has invested over €500m over the last 6 years in building new school buildings and modernising existing facilities for Irish medium schools across the country. This investment has included the construction of 10 new school buildings for Irish medium schools during this period.?Currently, there are 9 new school buildings under construction for Irish medium schools and a further 4 new school buildings have been prioritised for delivery over 2026 and 2027 as part of NDP Rollout. My department will continue to support Irish medium provision as part of NDP rollout during the 2026 to 2030 period.

In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a geographical information system, using data from a range of sources, including CSO census data, along with child benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level. While CSO Census data is considered, it reflects the population at a specific point in time. It does not by its nature therefore fully capture the ongoing and evolving nature of demographics. My department therefore uses data from a variety of sources to underpin its forward planning work.

The Policy for Irish-Medium Education outside of the Gaeltacht was launched in November 2025. The policy sets out my department's vision that high-quality Irish-medium education will be available to all, in inclusive and multicultural educational settings. I am committed to my department working with stakeholders to achieve that vision, and to make progress towards delivering on the commitments of the Programme for Government.

The Taskforce on Models of Provision for Irish-Medium Education, which was established under the Policy for Irish-Medium Education outside of the Gaeltacht, is providing a platform for collaboration between my department and key stakeholders to identify a pathway to increase the provision of Irish-medium education. I look forward to the outcome of this taskforce to help strengthen and expand the provision of Irish-medium education.

Parental preferences from the primary school survey have now been published and this provides a comprehensive evidence base to underpin decision-making on the level of demand for Irish medium provision. Primary schools have been given an opportunity to reflect on the outcome of the survey and indicate to the Department by 31 October if, following local consultations, they are interested in change - including in relation to moving to Irish medium provision. These results will assist with forward planning for future provision. While this survey is at primary level it will also assist with providing a guide on post-primary requirements into the future.