Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2026
278. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Education and Youth the criteria, considerations and thresholds applied by her Department when determining whether a Gaelcholáiste or Irish-medium post-primary unit should be established in an area; the role of demographic projections, parental demand, existing Irish-medium primary provision and school capacity in that assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52644/26]
View answerThe 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.
In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a geographical information system, using data from a range of sources, including child benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level nationally. While CSO Census data is considered, it reflects the population at a specific point in time. It does not by its nature therefore fully capture the ongoing and evolving nature of demographics. My department therefore uses data from a variety of sources to underpin its forward planning work.
If additional accommodation is required, the aim to try and facilitate this, as much as possible, by way of expansion of existing schools rather than establishing new schools. The expansion of existing schools is consistent with wider Government objectives under Project Ireland 2040 for an increased emphasis on compact growth.
In respect of post primary schools, new post primary schools must have a student enrolment capacity of 600-1,000 students and must be co-educational. A lower threshold of 400 students may apply to gaelcholáistí, having regard to the alternative of establishing an Irish-medium unit (aonad) in an English-medium school.
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 to help strengthen and expand the provision of Irish-medium education.
By way of information , parental preferences from the primary school survey have now been published and this provides a comprehensive evidence base to underpin decision-making on the level of demand for Irish medium provision. The survey will also provide a useful guide to inform both future primary and post-primary provision.
Finally, my department is fully committed to supporting Irish medium provision and has invested over €550m over the last 6 years in building new school buildings and modernising existing facilities for Irish medium schools across the country. My department will continue to support Irish medium provision as part of NDP rollout during the 2026 to 2030 period.
