Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 July 2026
175. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is satisfied that there is an adequate number of Gaelcholáistí across the country, and therefore an adequate number of young people with the sufficient language skills, to ensure that 20% of recruits to the public sector will be competent in the Irish language by the end of 2030. [50151/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra179. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is satisfied that there is an adequate number of Irish language medium schools across the country, and therefore an adequate number of young people with the sufficient language skills, to ensure that 20% of recruits to the public sector will be competent in the Irish language by the end of 2030. [50157/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 175 and 179 together.
I propose to take questions 50151/26 and 50157/26 together.
My department is committed to supporting the implementation of the National Plan for Irish Language Public Services, which is overseen by the Department of Community and Rural Development and the Gaeltacht. The Plan provides a pathway to increase the number of public service recruits competent in Irish towards the target of 20% set out in the Official Languages Act. All sectors of the education system will have a role to play in supporting the achievement of this target. The first action plan under the National Plan includes commitments for my department, both in relation to supporting Irish-medium education and supporting the teaching of Irish in English-medium schools.
The Government is committed to supporting Irish-medium education. 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. It sets out my department’s vision that high-quality Irish-medium education will be available to all, in inclusive and multicultural educational settings. The implementation of a range of actions under the policy have already been initiated. A key action under the policy has been 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 to identify a pathway to increase the provision of Irish-medium education.
The Action Plan for Irish in English-Medium Schools was also launched in November 2025 and will be implemented within a two-year period, September 2025-2027. It will support primary and post-primary schools in implementing existing curriculum specifications to provide better learning experiences of Irish and increase the use of Irish among children and young people.
The delivery of both the Action Plan for Irish in English-Medium Schools and the Policy for Irish-Medium Education outside of the Gaeltacht were commitments in the Action Plan for Irish Language Public Services 2026-2028. My department is committed to continuing to work with the Department of Community and Rural Development and the Gaeltacht to make further progress in this area.
