Scoileanna Gaeltachta

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 June 2018

Tuesday, 19 June 2018

Ceisteanna (200)

Pat the Cope Gallagher

Ceist:

200. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Education and Skills the process for secondary schools within Gaeltacht areas which are considering changing their primary teaching language from English to Irish through the concept of tumoideachas or full immersion of teaching through the medium of Irish; the process of consultation for parents and school stakeholders before such a decision would be taken, outlining the process by which each parent's opinion would be sought and recorded by ballot or otherwise; his views on whether it is essential that no parents should feel excluded from a clearly defined process or that students should not be excluded from receiving secondary education through the medium of English if that is their preferred choice and which in many of these schools would have been the standard teaching practice for the past 50 years or more; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26622/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

Circulars 0034/2017 and 0022/2018 set out the process involved for post-primary schools in the Gaeltacht to participate in the Gaeltacht School Recognition Scheme to meet the aims of the Policy on Gaeltacht Education to ensure high quality Irish-medium educational provision in schools located in Gaeltacht language-planning areas. Schools in the Gaeltacht were invited to express an interest in the Gaeltacht School Recognition Scheme in 2017/ 2018 and were required to involve the school community and local language-planning committee in the decision-making process involved. The management of the consultation process with parents and the wider school community is a matter for the school management of each individual post-primary school.

The criteria for recognition as a Gaeltacht School includes a requirement for schools to develop a whole-school action plan for improvement linked to language-based criteria to set out how the school will, on a phased basis, take the steps necessary to enhance Irish-medium educational provision in classrooms and to extend the use of Irish as the language of communication, instruction and socialisation within the school. The specific content of these action plans is a matter for each individual school to consider as it applies to its own unique sociolinguistic context in consultation with its board of management and school community.

The Policy on Gaeltacht Education 2017-2022 sets out a comprehensive strategy for education in the Gaeltacht. This Policy, following widespread public consultation, sets out a wide range of actions for improved Irish-medium educational provision in schools in the Gaeltacht .

Parallel provision of Irish-medium and English-medium educational provision is available in some Gaeltacht areas, particularly those that are immediately adjacent to areas not designated as within the boundaries of the Gaeltacht. As highlighted in the Policy on Gaeltacht Education 2017-2022, it is not intended during the lifetime of this Policy to extend parallel provision to Gaeltacht areas where such is not currently available.