Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 June 2026
541. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the first year and full year cost of hiring a full-time teacher for every local authority area to provide Irish classes free of charge to adults based on an academic year starting in September for education and training boards; the annual expenditure specifically on Irish medium higher education in each of the past ten years. [46577/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIrish language provision is already widely available across the Further Education and Training (FET) sector. Education and Training Boards (ETBs) deliver a substantial number of free or heavily subsidised Irish language courses nationwide, ranging from beginner to advanced level, in accessible community and education settings. A list of the courses offered in 2025 is available in the attached table.
Funding for further education courses is not allocated on a local authority basis. The Department provides funding to SOLAS, which in turn allocates resources to ETBs based on regional and learner needs.
These classes are generally delivered by adult education tutors. Details of the relevant salary scales are set out in Circular 0007-2026.
Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are autonomous and responsible for their own academic provision and associated costs. They are funded through a mix of State grants, fees, and other income streams, which support overall institutional activity rather than specific programmes.
The Department supports Irish language provision through core funding and targeted supports, including €900,000 annually to promote Irish among students and staff, and €1.766 million for Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge. Core funding is allocated by the HEA as a block grant, and institutions determine internal spending. As such, it is not possible to isolate specific expenditure on Irish-medium higher education.
A Sectoral Working Group on Tertiary Education Requirements for Irish Language in the Public Sector is being established with the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht and will meet shortly. The purpose of the group is to consider how the full range of tertiary education provision across higher education, further education and training, apprenticeship, upskilling, reskilling and lifelong learning can support the delivery of the National Plan for Irish Language Public Services, and in particular targets relating to increasing public sector competence in Irish.
