Gaeloideachas is extremely unhappy with the framework for the forthcoming Policy on Irish-medium Education that was provided to us recently for consideration, ahead of a major consultation meeting with the Department of Education on Friday 20 September.

We are very concerned about the following issues:

1. There is no stated vision for the future of Irish-medium education in the framework.
2. The framework is not in keeping with the recommendations made by Sealbhú. Sealbhú were commissioned by the Department of Education to analyse the results of the extensive consultations held with stakeholder groups and make recommendations based on them. The policy framework, as it stands, is not in line with the recommendations. The report by Sealbhú outlines these recommendations, which are measured, rights-based and rooted in evidence from other jurisdictions.
3. Research on the ‘aonad’ model has been ignored. COGG commissioned research on the ‘aonad’ model (Irish-medium provision in English-medium schools) which was to inform the development of the policy on provision at post-primary level. Not only were the recommendations not taken into account in the framework, but they were completely ignored, and the researchers and their recommendations were not included in the aforementioned stakeholder consultation meeting. This research recognises the urgency of standalone immersion schools and a proper development path for existing ‘aonaid’ to support them becoming independent gaelcholáistí. You can read the research paper here. 
4. There is very little in the framework to support naíonraí. A national plan for Irish in the early years is being prepared by the Department of Children but in its absence, we are operating in a vacuum of information regarding support for and the development of naíonraí, the cornerstone of our immersion education system.
5. There is no stated ambition or information in the framework regarding the establishment of schools in the future.

Gaeloideachas’ urgent demand is that a comprehensive draft of the policy be published for consultation. It has been indicated that the Minister for Education plans to progress the Policy quickly and that the opportunity for consultation is over. Gaeloideachas cannot accept this approach.

We will be lobbying strongly for this, and you can help us by making the same demand of politicians in your area and seeking their support to influence the Minister to be reasonable about this demand, and to make a draft policy available for public consultation. We have a very short window to do this, ahead of the upcoming election. We cannot and will not give up on the rights of the dedicated staff in our naíonraí and schools, and those of the parents and children they serve.