Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 May 2026
1519. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht given the low level of families in the Gaeltacht raising their children in the Irish language, the supports given to families to support and encourage them to raise their children in the Irish language; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40139/26]
View answerSince its publication in 2010, the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010–2030 has been the central policy of Government regarding the Irish language. The Strategy sets out an integrated approach to the Irish language, with nine areas of action listed, including education, the Gaeltacht, family, community, media, technology and the economy. The relevant actions under the Strategy are being implemented by various stakeholders, including my department.
The Gaeltacht Act 2012 provides the statutory framework for undertaking the language planning process on a co-ordinated basis. Under this process, the public and the the voluntary, public and private sectors work together to support the Irish language in the various geographical areas recognised under the Act. The language is supported as the community and family language of the Gaeltacht and of other areas outside of the Gaeltacht through the preparation and implementation of language plans at community level. The purpose of the language plans is the strengthening of language usage in the context of family, community, education, social, business and public affairs.
In conjunction with the Language Planning Process, my Department provides funding to a number of Irish language organisations. These are Tuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta, Comhar Naíonraí na Gaeltachta, Muintearas Teo. and Ealaín na Gaeltachta. Language Planning Officers employed in prescribed Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas, Gaeltacht Services Towns and Irish Language Networks work in conjunction with these organisations to further implement and develop approved language plans and the organisations' funded work programmes. Details of these programmes are as follows:
• Comhar Naíonraí na Gaeltachta (CNNG): A grant of €3,734,500 has been approved for the period 2023-2026. Comhar Naíonraí na Gaeltachta supports early years services through the medium of Irish in Gaeltacht areas. CNNG employs 230 people in the 130 early years services it oversees - including pre-school services, nurseries, mother and child groups, after-school services and breakfast club services.
• Tuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta (TnaG): A grant of €5,445,817 has been approved over a 3-year period (2024-2026) for a support programme for Gaeltacht families. TnaG supports families raising children through Irish by organising and administering resources and community events through Irish.
• Ealaín na Gaeltachta: A grant of €3,720,000 has been approved over three years ending in 2026 to develop and promote traditional and contemporary arts in the Gaeltacht and to increase development and employment opportunities in the sector.
• Scéim na gCúntóirí Teanga: The purpose of the Language Assistants Scheme is to strengthen Irish as a community and family language in the Gaeltacht in accordance with the central objectives of the language planning process and the Policy for Gaeltacht Education 2017-2022. The scheme has been funded by this Department in the Gaeltacht for many years and in 2023, the scheme was expanded so that Gaelcoileanna and Gaelcholáistí located in Gaeltacht Service Towns and Irish Language Networks outside the Gaeltacht could also benefit from it. Under the scheme, language assistants are provided to participating schools to help with the acquisition and enrichment of the language. Muintearas Teo and Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne administer the scheme within the Gaeltacht regions while Glór na nGael are responsible for administering the scheme outside the Gaeltacht. The scheme is currently available in one hundred and thirty two (132) Gaeltacht schools, and twenty-nine (29) schools outside of the Gaeltacht. Grants of up to €1,964,371 have been awarded to administer this scheme for the 25/26 academic year.
• Scéim na gCampaí Samhraidh: The Summer Camps Scheme - administered by Muintearas, under the auspices of Údarás na Gaeltachta on behalf of the Department, provides funding to Gaeltacht community groups and organisations to organise Irish Language Summer camps for young people in Gaeltacht regions. This gives young people between the ages of 3 and 18 years the opportunity to attend sports, drama, dancing, music and filming activities as well as trips through the medium of the Irish language. The scheme allows organiser to keep the cost of attending a camp more affordable for families raising Irish speaking children. Typically this scheme supports approximately 200 camps throughout the Gaeltacht counties annually serving over 6,400 children. The main objective of the scheme is to create a social and educational opportunity for young people in Gaeltacht areas through the medium of Irish and to encourage them to develop an interest and confidence in the language in a pleasant, safe and stimulating setting. Over the past few years, there has been a clear increase in the number of young people who previously attended the summer camps in their early years and are now returning as youth leaders and seasonal employees. This development highlights the impact of the scheme in terms of personal and leadership development and demonstrates that the camps are contributing to social and linguistic sustainability in local communities. Funding for this scheme was increased for the 2026 with a grant available of up to €1,308,039 or €436,013 per year for the years 2026 – 2028.
• Clár na gCluichí Gaelacha: Under the ‘Clár na gCluichí Gaelacha’ programme, football, hurling and handball skills are taught in Gaeltacht schools through the medium of Irish. The aim of this programme is to cultivate and develop GAA skills while at the same time fostering and promoting the Irish language. This programme is co-funded by the GAA Provincial Councils in the relevant Gaeltacht regions. The progress that these children make can be seen, not only on the playing field but in their personal lives as well and training is provided to approximately 1,700 children a week through the medium of Irish with as many pupils as possible in each school. There are variations in how the programme is delivered but in general it involves a coach facilitating sessions in school during the academic year combined with regular blitz sessions between participating schools. It also shows the pupils that the Irish language can have an important role in sport. A grant of up to €132,062 has been awarded to administer this scheme for the 25/26 academic year.
An Clár Aclaíochta: The ‘Clár Aclaíochta’ programme which is administered by Muintearas Teo provides physical education classes in 18 schools in the Galway Gaeltacht. The aim of the service is to cultivate and develop sports skills as well as to foster and promote the Irish language. In total, 17 primary schools and one special school participate in this programme. The service provides an opportunity for students who do not participate in GAA games to increase their physical activity and develop their physical abilities and skills as well as increasing their use of the Irish language. Under the scheme, a series of fitness classes are provided to schools that participate in the programme, at least once a week, and for at least one full school term. The Fitness and Sports Programme greatly supports the strengthening of Irish as the spoken language of the school and encouraging the Irish-speaking community in the Gaeltacht to pass on Irish to the next generation. A very important aspect of the scheme is that the language skills of the children who participate in the programme are developed through the acquisition of specific terms related to sports, which will assist them in their socialisation both inside and outside the school. All classes are conducted through the medium of the Irish language. A grant of up to €78,316 has been awarded to administer this scheme for the 25/26 academic year.
