Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 December 2025
234. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department has a stated policy that it will only provide new Irish medium schools within the existing number of schools, rather than building new Irish medium schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72753/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI fully support the important role that Irish-medium education plays in the promotion of the Irish language. We have committed in the Programme for Government to expanding opportunities for pupils and students to attend Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí, to establishing Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí where there is demand, and to supporting parents choosing Irish-medium education for their children.
My department recently published a new Policy for Irish-medium Education outside of the Gaeltacht. A key action within the policy is the establishment of a taskforce on models of provision for Irish-medium education. This taskforce is facilitating collaboration between my department and stakeholders to examine the various models of Irish-medium education and to identify ways to increase the provision of Irish-medium education. The work of this taskforce will inform the approach in considering the Irish-medium post-primary provision in a sustainable manner.
In this regard, my department does not have a stated policy that it will only provide new Irish medium schools within the existing number of schools. However, the transition of existing English medium schools to Irish medium schools is a model for increasing Irish medium education that my department utilises. As an example of providing a new Irish medium school within the existing number of schools, my department continues to work with the Edmund Rice Schools Trust (ERST) on the transition of Synge Street CBS in Dublin 8, from a single-sex, English medium post-primary school to a co-educational Gaelcholáiste, on a phased basis, from September 2026.
In relation to new schools, 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.
Where demographic data indicate that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may be provided through:
- Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
- Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
- Provision of a new school or schools.
A patronage process is run after it has been decided, based on demographic analysis, that a new school is required. The patronage process is open to all patron bodies and prospective patrons. Parental preferences, as well as other considerations such as the extent of diversity of provision in an area (including Irish-medium provision), are key to the decision-making process.
Finally, as the Deputy may be aware, my department launched the ‘Primary School Survey’ on the 4th of November. The survey, the largest of its kind ever conducted by my department, was school specific and invited parents, guardians, school staff and Board of Management members to express their preference in relation to a number of important aspects of primary school provision, including the language of instruction of the school. The survey preferences in relation to the preferred language of instruction will inform potential future local consultation around opportunities for the provision of education through Irish. The survey is not a final step. Where there is clear support from parents and guardians for change to be considered, a further process of inclusive dialogue will begin.
The survey closed on the 16th of December.
