9.3.1 Policy and resourcing

9.3.1 Policy and resourcing

Significant investment has been made to support the implementation of the Policy on Gaeltacht Education 2017-2022

In October 2016, the Department published the Policy on Gaeltacht Education 2017-2022. Between 2017 and 2020, a budget of €13.9m was allocated to support the implementation of a wide range of actions in the Policy on Gaeltacht Education. Additional resources have been provided to enable An Chomhairle Um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) to fulfil its role in implementing Gaeltacht Policy actions, including the provision of continuing professional development (CPD) for the 134 schools participating in the Gaeltacht School Recognition Scheme.

Figure from page 255

The policy on Gaeltacht education 2017-2022

The overarching goal of the Policy on Gaeltacht Education 2017-2022 is to ensure the provision of high-quality Irish-medium education in Gaeltacht schools to support the use of Irish as the main language of Gaeltacht communities.

Initiatives arising from the Policy include: the Gaeltacht School Recognition Scheme, the E-Hub pilot project and Forás, a pilot Irish-language development programme, and a number of teacher education programmes to strengthen Irish-medium and Gaeltacht education across sectors.

The Gaeltacht Education Unit in the Department of Education, established in 2017, is responsible for overseeing and supporting the staged implementation of the Policy on Gaeltacht Education and the Gaeltacht School Recognition Scheme to ensure that the Irish-medium education provided in schools seeking recognition as Gaeltacht schools is effective and of high quality.