Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South-West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

324. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider the establishment of a new Gaelcholáiste in west Cork to meet the growing need outlined by the community (details supplied). [50683/26]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Programme for Government 2025, Securing Ireland’s Future, includes a commitment to establish Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí where there is demand and support parents choosing Irish-medium education for their children.

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 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 nationally.

If additional accommodation is required, the aim to try and facilitate this, as much as possible, by way of expansion of existing schools rather than establishing new schools. The expansion of existing schools is consistent with wider Government objectives under Project Ireland 2040 for an increased emphasis on compact growth.

In respect of post primary schools, new post primary schools must have a student enrolment capacity of 600-1,000 students and must be co-educational. A lower threshold of 400 students may apply to gaelcholáistí, having regard to the alternative of establishing an Irish-medium unit (aonad) in an English-medium school.

New schools are only established in areas of demographic growth as the resources available for school infrastructure must be prioritised to meet the needs of areas of significant population increase so as to ensure that every child has a school place.

As the Deputy is aware, - and by way of information -, 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. The survey will also provide a useful guide to inform both future primary and post-primary provision.

Finally, my department is fully committed to supporting Irish medium provision and 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. My department will continue to support Irish medium provision as part of NDP rollout during the 2026 to 2030 period.