Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 March 2022
97. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education the progress that has been made by her Department under its commitments within the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13495/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can advise the Deputy that my Department has made good progress in implementing the Education actions set out in the 5 year Action Plan 2018-2022 under the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030. .
In relation to the Policy on Gaeltacht Education 2017-2022 , the Gaeltacht School Recognition Scheme has been extended to 2024 and participating schools continue to receive additional supports and resources. Since 2019, Leaving Certificate Physics has been made available to eligible schools through an interactive blended-learning teaching approach through the E-Hub project, A comprehensive independent evaluation of the project was completed in March 2021 and findings were very positive. A second subject is expected to be introduced from September 2022. In addition the department has provided a package of supports for each of the five post-primary schools located on islands to help address their unique sociolinguistic context. The Department is currently developing a new policy on Irish-medium education outside of Gaeltacht areas.
The Teaching Council carried out a review of the Standards for Initial Teacher Education and new Céim: Standards were published in November 2020. In addition, contracts for two new Irish-medium teacher education programmes were awarded in 2018 and a new Irish-medium blended-learning post-graduate programme being developed for post-primary teachers is expected to become available from September 2023.
A new integrated Irish/English Primary Language Curriculum from infants to sixth class was introduced in 2019 and continues to be supported by a comprehensive CPD programme for teachers. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) has developed L1 and L2 draft curriculum specifications for Leaving Certificate (established) Irish. Consultation on the draft specifications ran from February to end November 2021. A detailed analysis of all feedback is now being carried out and an interim consultation report will be published before the end of the academic year. The NCCA is also initiating an early enactment review of Junior Cycle Irish, L1 and L2 and a report in this regard will be published in 2022.
The implementation of a Content Language Integrated Learning pilot project in Early Years settings, Primary and Post-primary schools was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic but work continued on development of necessary resources. The pilot programme will now be implemented this year. In addition, following a review, new circulars for Primary and Post Primary schools on exemptions from the study of Irish are being implemented since September 2019 and an initial review of implementation of these circulars is currently underway.
The Department provides funding to support a number of programmes including the Gaelbhratach programme, the digitisation of Séideán Sí books, a portal dedicated to providing access to resources that support learning and teaching in Gaeltacht and Irish-medium schools, and expansion of the Campaí Samhraidh/Summer Camp programme in 2020 to include all DEIS primary schools with an associated CPD programme. The Department published Indicators of Good Practice in Immersion Education: Draft Guide for Gaeltacht Post-Primary Schools in 2018 in collaboration with COGG and further work was carried out with a new edition in 2020
The Department developed an Online Patronage Process System to provide objective information to parents, which allows them to make an informed choice about their preferred model of patronage as well as language of instruction, i.e. Irish or English, of new schools. A number of Gaelscoileanna and four new Irish medium primary schools have been established following such patronage processes. At post-primary level, a new gaelcholásite was established in 2020, following the transition of an Aonad to stand-alone school.
My Department will continue to support the implementation of the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030.
