Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 June 2026
104. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she has sought legal advice on the rights of families to compel the State to provide Irish-medium education on the grounds of discrimination; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46344/26]
View answerWhere appropriate, my department seeks legal advice on issues arising in the course of its work. Any legal advice obtained is subject to legal professional privilege and it would not be appropriate to comment on any such advice.
The Education Act 1998 identifies the role of my department as being “to promote the right of parents to send their children to a school of the parents’ choice having regard to the rights of patrons and the effective and efficient use of resources”. I am committed to supporting Irish-medium education and to providing opportunities for children and young people to receive their education through the medium of Irish.
The Programme for Government 2025 – Securing Ireland's Future – contains commitments to expand opportunities for pupils and students to attend Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí, to establish Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí where there is demand, and to support parents who choose Irish-medium education for their children.
The Policy for Irish-Medium Education outside of the Gaeltacht was launched in November 2025. The policy sets out my department's vision that high-quality Irish-medium education will be available to all, in inclusive and multicultural educational settings. I am committed to my department working with stakeholders to achieve that vision, and to make progress towards delivering on the commitments of the Programme for Government.
The Taskforce on Models of Provision for Irish-Medium Education, which was established under the Policy for Irish-Medium Education outside of the Gaeltacht, is providing a platform for collaboration between my department and key stakeholders to identify a pathway to increase the provision of Irish-medium education. I look forward to the outcome of this taskforce, and I hope that our stakeholders will seize the opportunities it will provide to strengthen and expand the provision of Irish-medium education.
