Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 May 2026
124. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the collaboration that is ongoing between her Department and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality in respect of the provision of immersive Irish-medium early years education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40464/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Education and Youth (DEY) and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (DCDE), work collaboratively to ensure that relevant policies, procedures and guidance are aligned in respect of the provision of immersive Irish-medium early-years education.
Such collaboration is promoted in the following ways:
• Firstly, the DCDE participates on the DEY Steering Committee for the Policy on Irish-medium Education outside of the Gaeltacht.
• DCDE is also represented on the DEY Advisory Committee for the Policy on Gaeltacht Education.
• Publication of the Guide for Gaeltacht Primary Schools: Strengthening links between Primary Schools and Early Learning and Care (ELC) Settings: a collaborative approach to promoting the use of Irish(https://assets.gov.ie/static/documents/guide-for-gaeltacht-primary-schools-strengthening-links-between-primary-schools-and-ea.pdf) is another example of the collaboration between the two Departments in relation to immersive Irish-medium education. That published Guide promotes continuity of high-quality Irish-medium educational experiences from early childhood to primary education.
• Further, every year the Department of Education and Youth Inspectorate visits early learning and care settings operation through the medium of Irish to evaluate the quality of education provision.
• Indeed, a review of Irish-medium education in early learning and care (ELC) settings conducted in 2024 by the DEY inspectorate portrayed a vibrant and committed sector that is continuously growing in its ability to support young children’s linguistic and holistic development.
