Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 April 2025
123. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Oideachais an dtabharfaidh sí na spriocdhátaí measta agus amchlár maidir le foilsiú nó cur i bhfeidhm gach ceann de na 13 bheartas mholta mar éileamh a bhrúigh sí féin trí rún Dála ar an 5ú Márta 2025. [17117/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraLeag mé amach gealltanais uaillmhianacha sa bhfrithrún a mhol mé maidir leis an nGaeilge sa chóras oideachais agus tá mé tiomanta beart a dhéanamh de réir mo bhriathar maidir leis na gealltanais sin le linn thréimhse an rialtais seo.
Mar a bhaineann sé le mo roinn, tá cur chuige forásach, seicheamhach á ghlacadh le polasaí cuimsitheach a fhorbairt don Ghaeilge sa chóras oideachais. Déanfar na gealltanais sa bhfrithrún a chur chun cinn mar chuid den chlár oibre seo. Tá trí shnáithe san obair seo: an Polasaí don Oideachas Gaeltachta; an polasaí don oideachas lán-Ghaeilge lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht; agus forbairt an phlean gnímh chun tacú leis an nGaeilge i scoileanna meán-Bhéarla.
Tá dul chun cinn suntasach déanta maidir le cur i bhfeidhm an Pholasaí don Oideachas Gaeltachta, agus tá sé i gceist agam tús áite a thabhairt sna míonna atá romhainn d’fhoilsiú an pholasaí nua don oideachas lán-Ghaeilge lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht.
Tá aonad bunaithe laistigh de mo roinn chun tacú leis an nGaeilge i scoileanna meán-Bhéarla. Tá comhairliúchán fairsing ar bun faoi láthair ag an aonad seo le páirtithe leasmhara náisiúnta agus scoile a bheidh mar bhonn eolais d’fhorbairt phlean gnímh don Ghaeilge i scoileanna meán-Bhéarla. Beifear ag súil go gcuirfí tús le cur i bhfeidhm an phlean gnímh sin sa bhliain acadúil 2025/26.
Ag an am céanna leis an obair atá ar siúl ag mo roinn, tá plean náisiúnta á fhorbairt ag An Roinn Leanaí, Comhionannais, Míchumais, Lánpháirtíochta agus Óige maidir le soláthar Gaeilge san earnáil fhoghlaim agus cúram na luath-óige agus cúram d’aois scoile. Tá na ranna ag obair go dlúth le chéile chun a chinntiú go bhfuil na beartais ag teacht lena chéile.
Nuair atá an obair sin curtha i gcrích, agus nuair atá aghaidh tugtha ar na riachtanais shainiúla sna hearnáil éagsúla, tarraingeofar na snáithe éagsúla le chéile i bpolasaí comhtháite don Ghaeilge sa chóras oideachais.
Translation
I set out ambitious commitments in the countermotion I proposed on the Irish language in the education system and I am committed to delivering on those commitments during the lifetime of this government.
As it relates to my department, a progressive, sequenced approach is being taken in developing a comprehensive policy for the Irish language in the education system. The commitments in the countermotion will be progressed as part of this programme of work.
There are three strands to this work: the Policy on Gaeltacht Education; the policy on Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht; and the development of an action plan to support Irish in English-medium schools.
Significant progress has been made in implementing the Policy on Gaeltacht Education, and it is my intention to prioritise the publication of the new policy on Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht in the coming months.
A unit has been established within my department to support the Irish language in English-medium schools. This unit is currently undertaking an extensive consultation with national and school stakeholders, which will inform the development of an action plan for Irish in English-medium schools. Implementation of this action plan is due to commence in the 2025/26 academic year.
In parallel to the work being carried out by my department, the Department of Children, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Youth is developing a national plan on Irish language provision in the early learning and care and school-age childcare sector. The departments are working closely together to ensure the policies are in alignment.
When that work has been completed, and when the specific needs of the various sectors have been addressed, the strands will be drawn together in an integrated policy for Irish in the education system.
