Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 May 2026
633. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Youth given that 20% of those sitting the junior certificate in 2025 had an exemption for Irish her views on whether this as a very high rate; if she will consider measures including supports for schools to reduce this figure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40138/26]
View answerThe Department of Education and Youth is committed to the Irish language as a core element of the school curriculum. Irish is a vital part of our national identity and educational heritage, and its promotion remains a key priority.
The number of exemptions granted by schools must be seen in the broader context:
• School enrolments at post-primary level have increased from 362,899 in 2018/19 to 425,411 in 2024/25, representing an increase of 17% at post-primary level.
• In 2024/25, there were 56,555 non-Irish nationals enrolled in post-primary schools.
• Over 17,000 students from Ukraine are currently enrolled in our schools, over 10,000 at primary level and over 7,000 at post-primary.
• The number of children with more complex special educational needs is increasing and this is evidenced by the almost 1,700 new special classes that have been provided in mainstream schools over the last five years and special school enrolments are increasing by 300 each year.
• There are almost 28,000 students with special educational needs enrolled in special classes and special schools in the 2024/2025 school year. This equates to almost 3% of our overall primary and post-primary student population.
The department is taking a range of measures to further support the teaching and learning of Irish including:
- the publication of the New Action Plan for Irish in English Medium Schools – “Is féidir liom, is féidir linn…”
- the publication of the new policy for Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht to compliment the pre-existing Policy on Gaeltacht Education
- the department has provided additional resources to COGG to increase support for the teaching and learning of Irish including:
• Summer courses for teachers through the education centres nationwide
• Awareness campaigns on the supports and resources available
• Resources for PE through Irish, which are now available up to 2nd class and work is in progress to have resources for 3rd and 4th class for the start of the next school year.
- COGG have recently advertised a call for research to inform the development of an evidence based information leaflet for parents setting out the advantages of learning Irish and the social, cultural and economic benefits.
- Updated curricula at primary and Junior Cycle level with work underway on the Leaving Certificate specification under the programme of Senior Cycle Redevelopment which will include alignment with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
- Funding to Foras na Gaeilge for a range of projects including the doubling of this department’s contribution to the Gaelbhratach programme which aims to increase the number of English medium schools engaging with the programme and using Irish outside of the classroom
- Increasing the number of schools engaging with the departments “Content and Language Integrated Learning” CLIL project, providing sustained support through Oide and in collaboration with COGG for teaching other subjects through Irish in English medium schools.
- GaelAonaid established within OIDE to further support teachers professional development
- Funding of the Irish teacher upskilling programme in Trinity College
- €300,000 in funding for the Oileáin Árann Pilot Youth Work initiative which will deliver dedicated, island-based youth work services through Irish to Inis Mor, Inis Mean and Inis Oirr for the first time.
The department has commenced work on the implementation of ‘Is Féidir Liom, Is Féidir Linn…’, The Action Plan for Irish in English-Medium Schools, which covers a two-year period from 2025 to 2027 and which aims to improve the teaching, learning and use of Irish by over 900,000 children and students attending English-medium schools.
The plan is underpinned by four key cornerstones:
• Fostering positive attitudes towards the Irish language
• Increasing the use of Irish
• To support access to the learning of Irish for all children and young people
• Integration of supports for the Irish language.
Further information is available on the department’s webpage here: 'Is Féidir Liom, Is Féidir Linn...' - Action Plan for Irish in English-Medium Schools
www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/publications/action-plan-for-irish-in-english-medium-schools/
