Increased support from the public for Irish Language in the Education System according to new ESRI report
August 7, 2015
Galescoileanna Teo. welcomes the publication of Attitudes towards the Irish Language on the Island of Ireland, an all-Ireland research report published by the Economic and Social Research Institute and commissioned by Foras na Gaeilge. The report is based on information collected as part of two all-Ireland surveys commissioned by Foras na Gaeilge in 2001 and again in 2013. The results of the research show that the public have a positive attitude towards the Irish language and that there is strong, consistent support for Irish.
Demand for Irish-medium schools
The research shows that there is a substantial increase in support for Irish-medium education from the public. 23% of those who were asked said that they would send their children to an Irish-medium primary school if one was available close to their home. 13% said that they would avail of one in 2001. 18% would choose an Irish-medium post-primary school if the opportunity was available, a large increase from 8% that expressed the same preference in 2001.
“These results correspond with the huge demand that Gaelscoileanna Teo. has seen for Irish-medium schools” says Cathnia Ó Muircheartaigh, President of Gaelscoileanna Teo. “30% of Irish-medium primary schools cannot cater for the demand and 1,500 children where refused places in the schools last year.”
Public Support for Irish-medium education
Although the number of people who send the their children to Irish-medium schools is in the minority, the ESRI research results show that 72% of those asked agreed that the Government should provide for Irish-medium schools in areas where there is demand from the public. “Less than 10% of schools in Ireland are Irish-medium schools” says Ó Muircheartaigh. “Often parents do not have access to Irish-medium schools as there are none within reasonable traveling distance, or the Irish-medium schools in the area are full. In spite of this, it is very difficult to establish Irish-medium schools because of the Department of Education & Skills criteria for new school provision. The State needs to address the gap between supply and demand to cater for parental preference and the rights of their children.”
The Department of Education & Skills are presently in the process of recognising new primary school patronages. Applications will be made for two Irish-medium primary schools to open in 2016, one in north Dublin and another in south Dublin. 5 additional submissions have already been made to the Department of Education & Skills for new Irish-medium post-primary schools. “If these schools were permitted to open, it would decrease the pressure on the sector and would give another generation the benefit of Irish-medium education” says Ó Muircheartaigh. “There is evidence now that there is public support for the schools, but sufficient support for the system from the State is needed also.”
The full report is available here:
Attitudes towards the Irish Language on the Island of Ireland
