[lg policy] Governmental Support for Irish-language Schools must Extend Beyond the Gaeltacht

[Harold Schiffman]

Governmental Support for Irish-language Schools must Extend Beyond the
Gaeltacht While increases in funding for Gaeltacht schools go some way to
reverse previous cutbacks, the large Irish speaking population outside the
Gaeltacht are yet to benefit. Léigh as Gaeilge an t-Eagarfhocal (Read
Editorial in Irish) »
<http://www.universitytimes.ie/2016/10/is-ga-do-thacaiocht-an-rialtais-do-ghaelscoileanna-leathnu-thar-na-ghaeltachtai/>
By The Editorial Board <http://universitytimes.ie/editorialboard>

The government’s new policy on Gaeltacht education, published this week
<http://www.universitytimes.ie/2016/10/acmhainni-bhreise-do-scoileanna-gaeltachta-a-fhogairt-ag-an-rialtas/>,
has been broadly welcomed by the Irish-speaking community. Julian de
Spáinn, General Secretary of Conradh na Gaeilge, described it as “thorough,
far-reaching and ambitious”.

This initial enthusiastic outburst of praise for the policy from
organisations seeking to promote the state’s first official language is a
reasonable response from a sector that has seen continuous cutbacks, which
have led to a halving of government funding since 2008. An initial €1
million dedicated to aiding Gaeltacht schools goes some way in reversing a
worrying trend in recent Irish language policy. This figure is also set to
increase to €7 million over the next five years. Other aspects of the
policy – which gives Gaeltacht schools a role in the coordination of
language policy in their localities – will ensure that any resources spent
on the development of the Gaeltachtaí will be used in the most effective
way.

Among the government’s justifications for the policy was the aim “to see
recognised Gaeltacht schools being the schools of first choice for parents
in the Gaeltacht”. This is, of course, a goal that is challenging to
achieve. There has long been a dearth of teaching resources and textbooks
in Irish that can afford students the best opportunities.

However, it is precisely these same challenges that face Gaelscoileanna
outside of designated Gaeltacht areas. Of the 1.7 million people in the
state who can speak Irish, only a little over 100,000 of these live in
Gaeltacht areas, according to the 2011 census. Almost 374,000 people in
Dublin can speak the language. Should schools with the potential to cater
for a much wider population of Irish speakers not also be given resources
to deal with the challenges of Irish-medium education?

As the face of the Irish language changes and diversifies, the government
must adapt and expand its schemes to support the language beyond its
traditional strongholds.

http://www.universitytimes.ie/2016/10/governmental-support-for-irish-language-schools-must-extend-beyond-the-gaeltacht/


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