In the spirit of Seachtain Na Gaeilge, the Dáil recently had a bilingual debate which discussed the need to improve how Gaeilge is taught in the Irish education system.
A debate, requested by Southside Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh, saw TDs from both government and opposition parties discuss how teaching of Gaeilge can match up to 2025 standards.
Statistics compiled by Ó Snodaigh, a native Gaeilgeoir, found that 13% of students who sat the Leaving Cert last year sought an exemption for the subject, up from 2.5% in 1999.
The Dublin South Central TD said that a string of education ministers have failed to comply with the Education Act of 1998 which called for the language to be taught “to the abilities and needs” of students, but the current model, Ó Snodaigh states, makes students choose between Irish as a core subject or requiring specialised teaching.
He also pointed out that Junior Cert students not having to study for an oral examination is hurting how students perceive the language.
Pointing to January’s Programme for Government, he also flagged that the coalition has quietly dropped previous commitments to improving the standard of Irish language teaching, which included more of a focus on speaking Irish in the classroom.
He expressed doubt that the government would be able to meet its targets of having at least 20% of the civil service able to speak Irish by 2030.
With the Irish language experiencing a cultural resurgence thanks to the likes of Kneecap (the Belfast hip-hop group which recently swept the IFTAs and won a BAFTA in addition to its record box office haul for an Irish language movie) and An Cailín Ciúin becoming the first ever Irish language film to receive an Oscar nomination in 2023, the Dáil heard that the government should capitalise on this newfound interest.
Minister for Education Helen McEntee said, “it clear to me that there is renewed and positive interest in the Irish language, due in no small part to our Irish-language media.”
“TG4, Cúla4, Raidió na Gaeltachta and Irish social media have all played a pivotal role in promoting the language, while films like Kneecap and An Cailin Ciúin have further shaped public perception.”
McEntee pointed to €405 million worth of funding for Irish-medium schools, saying that almost 300 Gaelscoileanna, Gaelcholáistí, and Gaeltacht schools across Ireland have benefited.
Dublin Bay North TDs Denise Mitchell and Naoise Ó Muirí have called attention to Gaelcholáiste Reachrann in Donaghmede, which they say is in urgent need of help.
Mitchell said, “like so many other students, my daughter has gone through the whole of secondary school being taught in prefabs; she is now heading into her second year of university and the students in Gaelcholáiste Reachrann are still sitting in prefabs.”
“How many more generations of students have to experience that?”
Mitchell said that planning permission, which was granted in 2017, has since lapsed.
“Since 2013, the Department of Education has spent €400,000 on new prefabs for this school. That money could have gone towards a new permanent building. Cá bhfuil an scoil bhuan nua?
Fine Gael TD Ó Muirí noted that there is currently only one Gaelcholáiste in his constituency, Dublin Bay North, to serve almost 500 students.
Ó Muirí said, “it’s so important that we see continued investment in the Irish language, and this starts with investing in Irish education. We’ve seen investment in Gaelscoileanna, but too often children who have completed their primary education in a Gaelscoil do not have the option to continue their education into a Gaeilcholáiste.”
He said that the school has “admirably” served the constituency since 2001, but there is a clear need for a new school.
“The Programme for Government has made a clear commitment to establish Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholaistí where there is demand; it is obvious to me that there is huge demand in Dublin Bay North and these families must be supported in their wish for their children to be educated through the Irish language.”
“It is vital that students who wish to learn through Irish are not penalised for simply living on the wrong side of the city or county, and I will continue to engage with my colleague Minister Helen McEntee to do everything we can to facilitate staff and students in Reachrann and other families around the country who seek to attend Irish-medium schools”, he said.
Labour TD Duncan Smith pointed to similar issues in Swords, Donabate and Kinsealy.
Students in his constituency can’t attend a Gaelscoil and instead have to attend Coláiste Glór na Mara, in Balbriggan, or to Gaelcholáiste Reachrann, in Donaghmede.
“This is ridiculous given the size of the town of Swords,” Smith said, noting that Swords itself is the third-largest town in Ireland.
“The thing about town planning is that we know when housing is going to be built, when the population is going to increase and that, with the provision of Gaelscoileanna, there will be demand for Gaelcholáistí”
The Dublin Fingal East TD said, “there are now pupils who feel that when entering first year after sixth class, they have to change patron body to stay local.”
“They are unable to avail of what is a broken school transport system in order to get their secondary schooling through Irish. The peer pressure to stay local becomes even greater. Therefore, we need to plan our schooling better.
While other TDs in the debate discussed the more fundamental problems with how the Irish language is taught, Smith argued that students in his constituency are losing out on the language simply because of poor planning.
“Where there are Gaelscoileanna and a sufficient population density, the Minister should ensure there are Gaelcholáistí for students to transition to so they can continue to learn through their national language and will not lose or dilute, in their education between the ages of 12 and 18, what they have learned between the ages of five and 12.”