Cathal Crowe
Ceist:331. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Youth her views on matters raised in correspondence (details supplied). [40980/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 28 May 2026
Ceisteanna (331)
Freagraí scríofa
Is féidir liom a dheimhniú don Teachta go bhfuil an Rialtas tiomanta go hiomlán do thacú leis an oideachas lán-Ghaeilge agus do dheiseanna breise a chur ar fáil do pháistí agus do dhaoine óga a gcuid oideachais a fháil trí mheán na Gaeilge. Tá gealltanais i gClár Rialtais 2025 – Todhchaí na hÉireann a Dhaingniú – chun deiseanna a leathnú do dhaltaí agus do scoláirí freastal ar Ghaelscoileanna agus Gaelcholáistí, Gaelscoileanna agus Gaelcholáistí a bhunú áit a bhfuil éileamh ann, agus chomh maith leis sin, tacú le tuismitheoirí a roghnaíonn oideachas lán-Ghaeilge dá bpáistí.
Seoladh an Polasaí don Oideachas Lán-Ghaeilge lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht i mí na Samhna 2025. Leagtar amach sa pholasaí fís mo roinne go mbeidh oideachas lán-Ghaeilge ar ardchaighdeán ar fáil do chách, i suíomhanna oideachais atá ionchuimsitheach agus ilchultúrtha. Tá mo roinn tiomanta do bheith ag obair i gcomhar le páirtithe leasmhara chun an fhís seo a bhaint amach, agus chun dul chun cinn a dhéanamh i dtreo gealltanais Chlár an Rialtais a bhaint amach. Ní chreideann mo roinn go bhfuil gá le bearta reachtacha chun dul chun cinn a dhéanamh sa réimse seo.
Gníomh lárnach faoin bPolasaí don Oideachas Lán-Ghaeilge lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht ab ea bunú an Tascfhórsa ar Mhúnlaí Soláthar don Oideachas lán-Ghaeilge, atá ag cur ardán ar fáil do chomhoibriú idir mo roinn agus príomhpháirtithe leasmhara ar an gceist seo. Tá sé i gceist go gcuirfidh an tascfhórsa moltaí faoi mo bhráid, ina leagfar amach na nithe seo a leanas:
• na múnlaí a theastaíonn chun oideachas lán-Ghaeilge a chur ar fáil ag an mbunleibhéal agus ag an iar-bhunleibhéal, lena n-áirítear plé ar an ngá atá le hathruithe ar na múnlaí atá ann cheana más gá.
• sainmhínithe ar mhúnlaí soláthair, lena n-áirítear critéir theangabhunaithe gaolmhara.
• conas is féidir oideachas ionchuimsitheach lán-Ghaeilge ar ardchaighdeán a chur ar fáil laistigh de gach múnla.
• cad iad na tacaíochtaí breise a d'fhéadfadh a bheith ag teastáil do scoileanna chun na múnlaí a chur i bhfeidhm go héifeachtach.
• conas an t-éileamh ar oideachas lán-Ghaeilge a mheas ar bhonn níos éifeachtaí critéir chun soláthar nua oideachais lán-Ghaeilge a bhunú trí na múnlaí éagsúla a aithníodh, lena n-áirítear breithniú a dhéanamh ar an ngá atá le hathruithe ar an bpróiseas pátrúnachta.
• nósanna imeachta chun tacú le scoileanna aistriú go héifeachtach ó mhúnla lán-Bhéarla go múnla lán-Ghaeilge.
• nósanna imeachta agus critéir maidir le conas is féidir le scoileanna aistriú ó mhúnla amháin go múnla eile, chun soláthar oideachais lán-Ghaeilge a mhéadú, agus na tacaíochtaí a d'fhéadfadh a bheith ag teastáil uathu chun é sin a dhéanamh.
• meicníochtaí le cur ar bun chun méadú an tsoláthar oideachais lán-Ghaeilge a éascú.
Táim buíoch do bhaill an tascfhórsa as a gcuid ama agus tiomantas agus iad ag leanúint lena gcuid oibre sna míonna amach romhainn.
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. My department is committed to working collaboratively with stakeholders to achieve this vision, and to progress towards achieving the Programme for Government commitments. My department does not believe that legislative measures are required to make progress in this area.
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 is providing a platform for collaboration between my department and key stakeholders on this issue. It is intended that the taskforce will make recommendations to me, 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.
I am grateful to the members of the taskforce for their time and commitment in continuing to contribute to its body of work over the coming months.