Language (education through English or through Irish)

92% of primary schools provide education through English. The remaining 8% provide education through Irish. This figure includes gaelscoileanna located outside the Gaeltacht and schools which provide education through Irish located in the Gaeltacht.

Pupils in schools that provide education through Irish follow the same curriculum as those in other schools but are taught all subjects (except English and other languages) through Irish. The pupils learn the Irish language naturally - through play and everyday use - and become bilingual. Irish is the language of the school and is used by pupils and teachers throughout the day, including in the school yard.

Children from all backgrounds and with all levels of ability attend schools that provide education through Irish; this includes children whose parents or guardians do not speak any Irish and children with special educational needs.

The table below sets out the breakdown of Primary Schools by language:

The Primary School Survey includes the following question on language preference (education through English or through Irish):

Would you prefer your primary school to provide education primarily through the English language or through the Irish language?

The survey is not a final step. The survey preferences on language (education through English or education through Irish) will inform potential future local consultation around opportunities to transition to provide increased education through Irish.

Every school has a patron, who appoints a Board of Management to manage the school on their behalf. Under the Education Act 1998, the patron decides on the ethos of the school and is the decision-making authority on significant decisions such as changing from providing education primarily through the English language to providing education through the Irish language, subject to the approval of the Department of Education and Youth.