Irish Language Committee to discuss policy on Gaeltacht education

The Committee will examine the provisions of the 'Policy on Gaeltacht education 2017 - 2022' which was recently published by the Department of Education and Skills.  Under the Policy, a recognised Gaeltacht school will be a school where the school commits to delivering all curriculum areas and subjects through the medium of Irish. Schools that opt for Gaeltacht school status will have up to five years to achieve this status. These schools will gain access to packages of additional teaching and other resources in a staged way as they demonstrate progress towards Gaeltacht school status.

Chair of the Committee, Catherine Connolly TD said: “For this policy to work it is essential that facilities are provided in full to Gaeltacht schools and that teachers in Gaeltacht schools are fully fluent to the degree that they can pass on the language, in all its richness of speech and idiom, to the next generation. Where this is not the case in any particular instance every assistance must be given to the school and the teacher to correct this situation. This aim is central to the survival of the Gaeltacht as an Irish-speaking community.

“It is also essential that Gaeltacht schools are fully integrated into Gaeltacht communities and that teachers, students and parents alike maintain their commitment, and are facilitated by the Government in maintaining their commitment, to the continuing use of Irish as the normal vernacular language in their communities.

“However, the Committee knows that an effective policy on Gaeltacht education will only achieve its aims within an overall and all-encompassing effective policy on providing all State services in Gaeltacht areas through the medium of Irish.  The Committee notes that if children, parents and teachers are to commit themselves to this policy they must see it is relevant to their future lives and careers in their own communities and elsewhere in Ireland.”

This meeting will take place in Committee Room 4, Leinster House from 5pm, on Tuesday, 29 November 2016.

Committee proceedings can be viewed live here.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the move, through the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.

ENDS/