2026-04-23

222. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps his Department is taking to support and encourage the provision of adult and community education programmes through the medium of Irish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22067/26]

Is ceist í seo le cur ar an Aire maidir leis an tacaíocht atá á cur ar fáil ag a Roinn le soláthar oideachas pobail agus soláthar oideachais do dhaoine fásta trí mheán na Gaeilge. My question relates to the provision of adult and community education through the medium of Irish. Will the Minister make a statement on the matter?

The Government is strongly committed to promoting and supporting the Irish language, including in the sphere of further education and training. Education and training boards, ETBs, play a crucial role in this work. ETBs assess demand in their communities for programmes delivered through Irish, including adult and community education, and provide these programmes where needs are identified and it is practicable to do so. Several ETBs participate in the breacadh scheme, which provides important support through the development of Irish-language teaching and learning resources, along with tutor training and curriculum development. ETBs also offer Irish language classes at a range of levels, including seasonal part-time and evening courses, with provision available for accredited awards from the national framework of qualifications, NFQ, levels 3 to 6. In addition, Irish-language community organisations may apply to their local ETB for funding through the adult literacy for life collaboration and innovation fund, as well as the reach fund, subject to eligibility criteria. These funds support innovative projects addressing unmet literacy needs and engaging disadvantaged learners. Some examples of projects funded under these initiatives include digital skills programmes for older adults delivered through the medium of Irish and supports for refugees seeking to learn the Irish language. We spoke earlier about English for Speakers of Other Languages, ESOL, provision. There was some Irish language provision for Ukrainian nationals at one stage and gardening and horticulture classes are also delivered bilingually. That gives an illustration of the breadth of different courses being delivered by ETBs through the medium of Irish in a range of subjects. The fundamental principle, which the point the Deputy made so well, is that Irish-language education does not mean teaching Irish. It means teaching other subjects through the medium of Irish. I am keen to progress that and expand on it.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as ucht an fhreagra sin. Tugaim moladh mór do na ETBs timpeall na tíre atá ag cur ar fáil scileanna nach scileanna Gaeilge iad ach atá ag cur foghlaim scileanna ar fáil trí mheán na Gaeilge. Tá an-tábhacht ag baint leis sin, ní hamháin sna ceantair Ghaeltachta ach sna ceantair nach bhfuil an Ghaeilge in úsáid iontu chomh forleathan céanna. I pay particular tribute to the City of Dublin ETB for the Gaeltacht skills course it has put in place. It is a two-week immersion course for tutors and teachers in the City of Dublin ETB to give them the ability to revive their subject expertise through the medium of Irish. I was glad to hear the Minister articulate on the floor of the Dáil that nuair a cuirimid ceisteanna faoi úsáid na Gaeilge sa bhreisoideachas, nílmid ag labhairt faoi Gaeilge a chur ar fáil i ranganna, ach ábhair eile a chur ar fáil trí mheán na Gaeilge. That is an important distinction to make. I would like to see the City of Dublin ETB approach expanded across the country, not only in extending the provision of courses through the Irish language but also ensuring its staff feels comfortable doing so. Support from the Department is needed to allow the sort of immersion courses in City of Dublin ETB to widely expand the ability of staff to deliver tuition through Irish.

B'fhéidir go mbeadh suim ag an Teachta i ngrúpa oibre earnála nua um riachtanas oideachas treasach don Ghaeilge san earnáil phoiblí. Tá an grúpa oibre seo á bhunú ag an Roinn agus an Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta faoi ghnímh 4.3.3 den Phlean Gníomhaíochta do Sheirbhísí Poiblí Gaeilge 2026-2028. Is oifigigh shinsireacha ón dá Roinn, chomh maith le páirtí leasmhara earnála ó Ranna Rialtais ábhartha, gníomhaireachtaí Stáit agus ionadaithe ó na hearnálacha breisoideachais agus ardoideachais a bheidh mar chomhaltaí an ghrúpa. Is é cuspóir an ghrúpa machnamh a dhéanamh ar an gcaoi ar féidir réimse iomlán an soláthar oideachais tríú leibhéal ar fud an ardoideachais, breisoideachais, na hoiliúna, na bprintíseachtaí, agus na foghlama tacú leis an bplean náisiúnta do sheirbhísí Gaeilge.

Molaim go mór na hiarrachtaí sin. We need to go a little further with the upcoming draft strategy on FET, that should have - and I hope it will - an explicit mention of the provision of courses that are not on the Irish language but are taught through the medium of Irish. Ba mhaith liom rud eile a chur in iúl don Aire agus na ETBs ar fud na tíre ná go bhfuil an-chuid Gaelcholáistí againn ar féidir a úsáid don oideachas do dhaoine fásta agus don oideachas pobail. Community colleges provide a broad range of adult and community education courses. There is no reason Gaelcoláistí could not be asked to do the same and provide the same sort of model. That is something I would encourage. Tá an t-éileamh ann don Ghaeilge. Tá daoine ann atá ag iarraidh cur lena gcuid stór focal agus lena gcuid Gaeilge. Tá múinteoirí ann ar fud na ETBs ar fad atá in ann an teagasc seo a dhéanamh. Caithfimid an mhuinín a thabhairt dóibh é sin a dhéanamh as Gaeilge. Táim ag súil go ndéanfaidh an tAire obair leis na ETBs chun é sin a bhaint amach.

I agree with the suggestion about the greater utilisation of Gaelcholáistí and Gaelscoileanna as part of the educational real estate, which could play host to some courses of this nature. That is a good suggestion and one that I will take away with me and consider. I reiterate my Department's commitment to furthering provision of Irish language in this space and across all aspects of the tertiary estate. Tá an Rialtas tiomanta oibriú ar bhonn thras-Rannach oideachas trí mheán na Gaeilge a neartú ag gach leibhéal ó na leathbhlianta go dtí an tríú leibhéal ag cinntiú gur obair thairbheach agus inbhuanaithe atá ann chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn. I hope I have provided some reassurance to the Deputy that this is being taken seriously by me and within an Roinn freisin.