Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 June 2026
103. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department has conducted an assessment of the locations most appropriate for new Irish-medium provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46343/26]
View answerOn 4 November 2025, my department published a 'Framework and action plan for delivery of increased choice for parents on education provision at primary level'. The main focus of this framework and action plan was an online, school-specific survey. The survey ran from 4 November to 16 December 2025.
Through the survey, my department has obtained clear information on the preferences of parents and guardians about the primary schools which their children currently attend, or will attend in coming years, on a number of important areas of primary school provision, including language of instruction (Irish or English).
On 4 June, my department issued primary schools, including schools that teach through English and schools that teach through Irish, with their school-specific results and explanatory information, marking the next stage in the process of engaging school communities on the future direction of their schools.
My department will publish all school-specific reports and the explanatory information pack for schools on the gov.ie website in mid-June. High-level survey results at a national level, including a county breakdown of the results, will also be published at that time.
Where the survey results show demand for change, Boards of Management have the opportunity to consider being included in the first group of schools to action the survey results, following a period of engagement and consultation with their school community, including their parents and Parent’s Association, Student Council, school staff and local community, including parents with children not yet in school. Schools are being asked to inform my department and their patron by 31 October 2026 if the school requests to be included in the first group of schools to action the survey results.
The survey results are intended to support meaningful local engagement and informed decision-making at school level. My department will continue to support and engage with schools as they consider their individual results and next steps.
The Programme for Government 2025, Securing Ireland’s Future, includes a commitment to establish Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí where there is demand and support parents choosing Irish-medium education for their children.
My department recently published a ‘Policy for Irish-medium Education outside of the Gaeltacht’.
A key recommendation of this report was the establishment of a Taskforce on Models of Provision for Irish-medium Education, which commenced its work in November 2025.
The role of the taskforce is to provide a platform for collaboration between the department and key stakeholders to develop a pathway to increase provision of Irish-medium education nationally. The taskforce's work is expected to be completed within one year. It will make recommendations to the department on areas such as the criteria for Irish-medium education provision, how to support schools transitioning to Irish-medium and mechanisms to facilitate expansion of provision.
Finally, my department has invested over €500m over the last 6 years in building new school buildings and modernising existing facilities for Irish medium schools across the country. This investment has included the construction of 10 new school buildings for Irish medium schools during this period.
My department will continue to support Irish medium provision as part of NDP rollout during the 2026 to 2030 period.
