Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 December 2013
210. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the strands and aspects of education being examined in the context of the review of education in the Gaeltacht; if international practice regarding other languages existing alongside a dominant language, such as Welsh, is being examined; and when the review will be complete and published. [53127/13]
View answerMy Department's review of education in the Gaeltacht will primarily seek to identify options for the delivery of education in primary and post-primary schools of various linguistic profiles and to clarify policy with regard to teaching through Irish in such schools. In collaboration with the Department of Arts Heritage and the Gaeltacht, it will also look at the impact of pre-school provision on primary education in Gaeltacht areas. Furthermore, the review will identify support measures for teachers' practice that would be required to improve teaching through Irish in Gaeltacht schools.
A key part of the review work will be an examination of relevant literature, national policies and practice elsewhere in sociolinguistic contexts that are similar to Gaeltacht areas. These will include Welsh in Wales, Basque and Catalan in Spain, Frisian in the Netherlands, Scottish Gaelic and Maori in New Zealand. Other strands of the review include an analysis of supply and demand for pre-school, primary and post-primary schooling in Gaeltacht areas, surveys of stakeholders, and case studies on Irish medium practice in Gaeltacht schools. Further detail is available in the terms of reference for the Review that are available on my Department's website. It is expected that the review will be completed and a report published by the end of 2014.
