A new policy and a plan to strengthen the teaching, learning and use of Irish language in schools has been announced.
Minister for Education and Youth Helen McEntee unveiled the policy for Irish-medium education and an action plan for Irish in English-medium schools on the shared campus of Gaelscoil Bhrian Bóroimhe and Swords Educate Together National School.
A department spokesperson said the actions together represent "a significant milestone" as they aim to expand supports, resources and opportunities to use the language.
The new policy set out a vision that "high-quality Irish-medium education will be available to all in inclusive and multicultural educational settings".
Minister McEntee said the department will work to ensure that "children have more opportunities to experience Irish as a living language outside of the classroom".
"Under this policy, we will ensure that an ecosystem of appropriate supports and resources is available to schools and their communities," she added.
In tandem, the minister also launched a three-year action plan for the Irish language for all primary and post-primary schools that teach through English, comprising more than 900,000 students.
Ms McEntee said the action plan sets out a practical path to build confidence and enthusiasm around the use of Irish in English-medium schools.
The plan reflects views that were articulated during a public consultation that involved almost 700 participants from children to school leaders.
"We want every student in every classroom to feel that Irish belongs to them, and to have a positive and rewarding experience of learning it," the minister said.
The supports provided will include language support hours, additional resources, the provision of guidance and teacher learning opportunities.
The department said schools will receive guidance and support in aligning current practices with the plan's priorities.
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Several actions have already started, including language support hours in Irish-medium schools outside of the Gaeltacht on a phased basis.
Funding has been provided to Gaeloideachas to develop a new resource to help parents support their children’s learning and the acquirement of Irish.
The Foraois pilot project was launched in conjunction with Dublin City Council in which a cluster of Gaelscoileanna are working together to build and support Irish-speaking communities.
The e-hub project was expanded to schools outside of the Gaeltacht where additional subjects were made available through Irish via blended learning.
An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta alongside Oide have been given the capacity to appoint additional staff to support schools.
It is intended to increase participation of schools in schemes such as Gaelbhratach and the Content and Language Integrated Learning initiative.
A key action under the policy is the establishment of a taskforce on models of provision for Irish-medium education.
The taskforce, which will hold its first meeting later this month, is charged with presenting a pathway to grow the Irish-medium education sector.
The two documents contain more than 110 actions aimed at strengthening the Irish medium education sector as well as improving the teaching of Irish in schools.
Chief Executive of An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta Jacqueline Ní Fhearghusa said the launch was a "momentous day" for Irish language education.
"There are two sub-departments within the Department of Education operating entirely through the Irish, committed to supporting and developing not only IME outside of the Gaeltacht, but also the teaching of Irish in schools that operate through English".
There are 151 Irish -medium primary schools, 29 Gaelcholáistí and 14 Aonaid/Sruthanna located outside of the Gaeltacht.
There were 36,303 pupils enrolled in Gaelscoileanna in 2024, which represented 6.8% of pupils enrolled at primary level outside of the Gaeltacht.
A taskforce will be established consisting of Department officials and other stakeholders tasked with identifying and designing approaches to increase the provision of Irish -medium education.
It is expected to fulfill its brief within 12 months of its first meeting.
The largest patron of Irish-medium schools An Foras Patrúnachta has questioned the establishment of the taskforce.
Chairperson Professor Pádraig Ó Duibhir believes the task force has been set up to answer a question that was answered during the policy research and consultation.
"What the minister has announced today is the establishment of a task force to answer a question that has already been answered. It seems that everything is being done apart from taking a decision to increase Irish-medium provision," he said.
"Irish-medium education is the most successful approach to teaching and learning Irish in the state and the main message from the research and consultation was that more Irish-medium schools are needed," Prof Ó Duibhir added.
He believes the new task force is working in a vacuum without any targets and cited the example of Wales where they have committed to a target of 40% of pupils receiving education through Welsh by 2050.
General Secretary of An Foras Pátrúnachta, Caoimhín Ó hEaghra said there are 13 counties nationwide that do not have an Irish-medium secondary school.
