Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 September 2025
512. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will support increasing the number of Irish language medium schools to 20%; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52047/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government includes commitments to expand opportunities for students to attend Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí, to establish Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí where there is demand, and to support parents choosing Irish-medium education for their children.
By way of general information, the amount of capital investment by my Department between 2020 and August 2025 in Irish-medium schools was approximately €466m. Also, there are currently 248 Irish-medium primary schools and 50 Irish-medium post-primary schools in operation throughout the country.
Work is currently underway in my department on the development of a new policy on Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht. A comprehensive consultation process was conducted to inform the policy. The department commissioned Sealbhú, a research centre in DCU, to analyse the information gathered through the consultation, and to conduct a review of national and international literature in relation to teaching through the medium of minority languages.
Officials in my department are drawing on the insights gained from this consultation process, and from the research in developing the new policy. The information gleaned from the consultation is being considered in light of existing provision for Irish-medium education, the estimated demand in the education system, as well as issues relating to teacher supply and the department’s budgetary and legislative context.
A taskforce is due to be established as an action under this policy to explore the various models of Irish-medium education provision that exist, and to facilitate collaboration between my department and key stakeholders in re-conceptualising the current models of provision, if necessary. Consideration of teacher supply for Irish-medium education will also be a crucial factor in the work of the taskforce and in the provision of high-quality education in the sector.
I expect to receive a draft of the policy in the coming weeks for my review. If I am satisfied with the draft received, it is intended that the policy will be published this autumn.
In addition to this, my department has just published a comprehensive Education Plan 2025 that outlines a significant body of work being undertaken this year to deliver for everyone in our school and youth services communities.
There are over 100 actions in this plan including a commitment to launch a survey of primary school parents and guardians and parents and guardians of children not yet in school on their preferences on important aspects of school provision and choice, such as the demand for education through Irish at their school. It is intended to launch the survey shortly. The results of the survey will help us plan how we provide education at primary level into the future. This initiative, along with other work, will help identify opportunities for increasing Irish medium provision at primary and post-primary level.
