Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 March 2022
70. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education the number of Gaelscoileanna at both primary and secondary level nationally by county from 2017 to 2021, in tabular form; and her plans to increase the number of Gaelscoileanna by 2030. [13169/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of Irish-medium education is a priority for the Department and the Government, and we share a strong commitment to increasing the number of Irish-medium places available and providing suitable accommodation in this regard.
My Department is currently developing a new policy on Irish-medium education outside of Gaeltacht areas.
The key objectives of the policy are in accordance with the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish language 2010-2030 and the Programme for Government 2020 and include:
- Provision of a framework for the delivery of high-quality Irish-medium education in schools and in early learning and care settings, primary and post-primary schools outside of the Gaeltacht
- Increasing the proportion of young people in Irish-medium schools by building on the foundations in early learning and care settings (naíonraí)
- Looking at ways to deepen community engagement around Irish-medium early learning and care settings and schools
- Examining how the supply of those with a high standard of Irish to work in Irish-medium education settings across the board can be increased
- Considering how opportunities for the establishment of Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí can be increased
- Developing a clear policy on the establishment of Aonaid lán-Ghaeilge in existing English-medium post-primary schools to strengthen Irish-medium educational provision and on the establishment of new gaelscoileanna, gaelcholáistí and aonaid lán-Ghaeilge as part of the new patronage process.
The new policy will complement the Policy on Gaeltacht Education which will continue to support early learning and care settings and schools in the Gaeltacht, the extended use of Irish in local communities, and the implementation of local Gaeltacht language plans, as set out in the Gaeltacht Act, 2012.
The aim of this new policy is to provide a framework for the delivery and growth of Irish-medium education of a high standard across all sectors outside of Gaeltacht areas.
An intradepartmental working group was established within my Department in 2021 to progress this important work. This working group will focus on developing a consultation process to encourage widespread stakeholder engagement to inform the policy development process. A review of national and international literature will also be carried out. A Steering Group is being established also to provide oversight, guidance and support for the policy development process.
The work will include detailed analysis of relevant demographic data from the Department’s Geographical Information System.
