Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 March 2019
13. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna céard iad na céimeanna a bheartaíonn sé a ghlacadh lena chinntiú go mbeidh soláthar scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge ar fáil le freastal ar an éileamh ar oideachas trí Ghaeilge ar fud an Stáit; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh [10950/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMar chuid de Straitéis 20 Bliain don nGaeilge 2010-2030 tá gealltanas tugtha ag mo Roinn deiseanna a chruthú chun oideachas trí mheán na Gaeilge a leathnú amach lasmuigh den nGaeltacht sa chomhthéacs go mbunófar 42 scoil nua le linn na tréimhse 2019 go 2022 agus mar chuid den bpróiseas pátrúnachta nua féachfar go háirithe ar Ghaelscoileanna, Gaelcholáistí agus Aonaid Lán-Ghaeilge a bhunú. Lena chois sin tá mo Roinn ag obair i gcónaí le luchtanna leasa chun tuilleadh forbartha a dhéanamh ar pholasaí ina thaobh seo ag an leibhéal iar-bhunscoile.
Tar éis a bheith fógartha i mí Aibreáin 2018 go mbunófaí 42 scoil nua idir 2019 agus 2022 d’fhorbrair mo Roinn Córas Próiseála Pátrúnachta ar-Líne a thugann eolas neamhspleách agus a ligeann do thuismitheoirí a chur in iúl cad is fearr leo maidir le pátrúnacht agus teanga teagaisc, is é sin, Gaeilge nó Béarla, sna scoileanna nua seo. Tá tosaíochtaí na dtuismitheoirí chomh maith le ceisteanna eile, ar nós an méid éagsúlacht soláthair i gceantar (soláthar trí mheán na Gaeilge san áireamh), rí-thábhachtach don bpróiseas cinnteoireachta.
Mar thoradh air seo bronnadh pátrúnacht ar trí cinn de scoileanna as an 13 bhunscoil atá le bunú in 2019 ar an bhForas Pátrúnachta mar Ghaelscoileanna lán-Ghaeilge i gceantair phleanála scoile Baile an Bhóthair_An Charraig Dhubh; Dhroim Conrach_ Marino_ Áth Cliath1; agus Maigh Nuad.
Maidir leis an deich gceantar eile, measfar an scóip atá againn chun scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge atá ann cheana féin in aice leo a mhéadú. Pléifidh mo Roinn an scéal seo leis an bhForas Pátrúnachta.
Lasmuigh de sin bunófar Gaelcholáiste iar-bhunscoile nua i Má Nuad i mí Mheán Fómhair 2019.
Bhí an Roinn ag caint le Gaeloideachas agus le luchtanna leasa eile maidir le forbairt Aonaid le fíor-dhéanaí ag cruinniú ar an 13 Nollaig 2018.
De bhreis air seo tá gealltanas sa Straitéis 20 Bliain go measfar an t-éileamh ar thuilleadh soláthair do scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge mar chuid den bPróiseas um Athchumrú Scoileanna ar mhaithe le hÉagsúlacht. Ina thaobh seo tá deis ar fáil do scoileanna Béarla ar mhaith leo aistriú chuig soláthar trí mheán na Gaeilge más mian dearfa na dtuismitheoirí agus pobal scoile na háite a leithéid.
English Translation:
To ask the Minister for Education and Skills what are the steps he intends to take to ensure a supply of all-Irish schools to meet the demand for education through Irish throughout the State; and will he make a statement on the matter.
As part of the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030, my Department has committed to creating opportunities for expanding Irish-medium education outside the Gaeltacht in the context of the establishment of 42 new schools from 2019 to 2022, which will afford particular consideration to the establishment of Gaelscoileanna, Gaelcholáistí, and Aonaid Lán-Ghaeilge as part of the new patronage process. My Department is also continuing to work with stakeholders to further develop policy in this regard at post-primary level.
Following the April 2018 announcement of the establishment of 42 new schools from 2019 to 2022, my Department has developed a new Online Patronage Process System, which provides objective information and allows parents to express their preferences in relation to the patronage and language of instruction, i.e. Irish or English, of these new schools. Parental preferences, as well as other considerations such as the extent of diversity of provision in an area (including Irish-medium provision), are key to the decision-making process.
This has resulted in patronage of three of the 13 primary schools to be established in 2019 being awarded to An Foras Pátrúnachta as Irish-medium Gaelscoileanna in the Booterstown_Blackrock; Drumcondra_Marino_Dublin 1; and Maynooth school planning areas.
The scope for expansion of existing Irish-medium schools that are located near to the other 10 areas will also be assessed and my Department will be engaging with An Foras Pátrúnachta in respect of same.
Separately, a new post-primary Gaelcholáiste will be established in Maynooth in September 2019.
The Department has been in communication with Gaeloideachas and other stakeholders in relation to the development of Aonaid, most recently at a meeting on December 13th 2018.
The 20 year Strategy also includes a commitment to assessing the demand for increased provision for Irish-medium schools as part of the Schools Reconfiguration for Diversity Process. In this regard, an opportunity is available to English-medium schools seeking to make a transition to Irish-medium provision, in line with the expressed wishes of parents and the local school community.
