Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 March 2026
528. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether consideration is being given to legislative measures to support a systematic and long-term expansion of Irish medium education, including the establishment of new schools rather than reliance solely on the expansion of existing provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17175/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra530. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has examined proposals to provide a statutory right to education through the medium of Irish where sufficient parental demand exists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17177/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 528 and 530 together.
I propose to take questions 17175/26 and 17177/26 together.
I can confirm to the Deputy that the Government is fully committed to supporting Irish-medium education and to providing increased opportunities for children and young people to receive their education through the medium of Irish. There are commitments in the Programme for Government 2025 – Securing Ireland’s Future - to expand opportunities for pupils and students to attend Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí, to establish Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí where there is demand, and also, to support parents choosing 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, that a particular affinity with and love for the Irish language and culture will be fostered in children and young people so that they will continue to use the language competently and with pride throughout their lives, and that an ecosystem of appropriate supports and resources will be available to Irish-medium education settings and their communities.
My department is committed to working collaboratively with stakeholders to achieve this vision, and to progress towards achieving the Programme for Government commitments. We do not feel that legislative measures are required to do this.
A key action under the Policy for Irish-Medium Education outside of the Gaeltacht is the establishment of a Taskforce on Models of Provision of Irish-Medium Education, which will provide a platform for collaboration between my department and key stakeholders on this issue. The taskforce has met four times, and will continue to meet regularly in 2026. The objective is that the taskforce will make recommendations to my department, setting out:
• the models needed to provide Irish-medium education at primary and post-primary level, including a discussion of the need for changes to existing models if necessary
• definitions of models of provision, including related language-based criteria
• how inclusive, high-quality Irish-medium education can be provided within each model
• what supports schools may need to implement the models effectively
• how to effectively assess the demand for Irish-medium education
• criteria for establishing new Irish-medium education provision through the various models identified, including consideration of the need for changes to the patronage process
• procedures to support schools in the effective transition from an English-medium to an Irish-medium model
• procedures and criteria for how schools can transition from one model to another, in order to increase the provision of Irish-medium education, and the supports they may need to do so
• mechanisms to be put in place to facilitate the expansion of Irish-medium provision.
A range of organisations and stakeholders whose input is important in formulating recommendations in this area have nominated members to the taskforce. I am grateful to the members of the taskforce for their time and commitment in contributing to its body of work over the coming year.
