25% of Parents Want Irish-Medium Education, But Only 8% of Schools Offer It
A survey shows 24.8% of parents want Irish-medium education, but only 8% of schools are Gaelscoileanna. An Foras Pátrúnachta CEO, Caoimhín Ó hEaghra, calls for 500 new schools to meet demand, criticizing the Department's inaction. Parents express frustration over limited access to Irish-medium education.
A recent Primary School Survey by the Department of Education and Youth revealed that 24.8% of parents with children not yet in school would choose an all-Irish education (Gaelscoil) if available. This contrasts sharply with the current reality, where only 8% (250) of the country’s schools are Irish-medium.
Caoimhín Ó hEaghra, CEO of An Foras Pátrúnachta, the patron body for most Gaelscoileanna, stated that the number of Irish-medium schools needs to triple, requiring 500 additional schools, to meet this demand. He criticized Minister Hildegarde Naughton and the Department for not announcing any plans to address this shortage, arguing they are ignoring the Programme for Government.
Ó hEaghra suggested a regional approach, where 25% demand for Irish education in a planning area with 20 schools should lead to five schools converting to Gaelscoileanna. Parents, like Cormac MacGabhann from Dublin, expressed frustration over the lack of access to Gaelscoileanna, forcing their children into English-medium schools despite speaking Irish at home. An Foras Pátrúnachta recommends a comprehensive framework for all-Irish education at both primary and post-primary levels.