Michael Healy-Rae
Question:194. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on a matter regarding a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41750/18]
View answerTuesday, 16 October 2018
Questions (194)
Written answers
Since the establishment of An tAonad um Oideachas Gaeltachta within my Department, significant progress has been made in relation to the development of the Gaeltacht School Recognition Scheme and commencement of its implementation. The objective of the Scheme is to allow participating schools to seek to achieve Gaeltacht School Recognition over a 5 year period on the basis of the implementation of specific language-based criteria, including the implementation of a total-immersion approach and the development of action plans by schools.
In April 2017, all primary and post-primary schools in Gaeltacht language-planning areas were invited to participate in the Scheme. The Scheme has been welcomed by Gaeltacht communities and well-received in Gaeltacht schools. This is evident from the high participation rates in the Scheme. 106 or 80% of primary schools and 28 or 96% of post-primary schools in the Gaeltacht have opted to participate in the Scheme.
To encourage participation in the Scheme by schools, a comprehensive information pack outlining the benefits of immersion education and bilingualism was sent to schools for dissemination to school communities, including parents and teachers. The information pack was developed by the Gaeltacht Education Unit in my Department in collaboration with An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG), Gaeloideachas, the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and Údarás na Gaeltachta.
Following the submission and review of each participating school’s action plans for improvement by An tAonad um Oideachas Gaeltachta, schools participating in the Scheme were eligible to access a number of additional resources from September 2018. These resources include access to a grant to purchase Irish-medium teaching resources, additional language teaching hours, additional continuing professional development delivered by COGG and additional Inspectorate support.
The number of additional language support hours allocated to schools participating in the Scheme from September 2018 was based on the enrolment figures recorded in the previous year, which is in line with Department norms. Schools at primary level were given the option to combine their additional language support hours with other schools to form clusters, which would allow for the creation of a temporary part-time teaching post that would be shared by the schools in the cluster. Initially schools were advised that the combined hours must equal 25 hours to create the shared teaching post, however, a number of schools applied to form clusters with a combined total of less than 25 hours. Having reviewed all applications received on a case by case basis my Department made the decision to approve these clusters also. This decision was made in the context of the challenges relating to the recruitment of teachers by schools in remote Gaeltacht areas and in the interests of the implementation of the Scheme and the Policy on Gaeltacht Education in general.
Circular 0021/2018 also highlights that the allocation of additional language support hours will be reviewed in 2019.