English in Gaeltacht communities one of ‘many challenges’ facing all-Irish schools

Minister for Education Jan O’Sullivan has said the increasing use of English in Gaeltacht communities is one of “many challenges” facing all-Irish schools there.

Ms O'Sullivan outlined the current landscape for "Irish-medium education" in the document Policy Proposals for Education Provision in Gaeltacht Areas, which was launched in Dublin on Tuesday.

She said Irish-medium education faced “many challenges”, including the “very wide linguistic diversity of their students, the decline in the number of children being reared through Irish, the increasing use of English in Gaeltacht communities and the pressure to move to English-medium instruction”.

She said the proposals were designed to “enhance the capacity” of Gaeltacht schools to provide Irish-medium education, as well as help to promote the use of Irish within school communities and in the wider Gaeltacht community.

Range of measures

The proposals in the discussion paper suggest a range of measures, which include defining a Gaeltacht school as one that “operates fully” through the medium of Irish.

Another proposal would see primary schools in the Gaeltacht allowed to practise “total early immersion” through Irish – during which English would not be taught – for a period of up to two years in the infant cycle.

Schools in the Gaeltacht currently teaching through English “would be encouraged and supported” to move on a phased basis to Irish-medium education. English-medium schools could be provided alongside Irish-medium schools “if there is sufficient demand”.

The policy document also suggests that Gaeltacht schools should be provided with additional resources. These could include language supports for native speakers, improved teaching resources and professional development for teachers and principals, and a curriculum relevant to native speakers.

Speaking at the launch, Ms O’Sullivan said Irish schools could “play a vital role” in supporting the future of the Irish language. A period of public consultation on the proposals will take place over the next six months.