Press release
Review of the Language Assistants’ Scheme published by Minister of State Chambers
From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, the Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD and Minister of State Jack Chambers TD launched a report on a review of the Language Assistants’ Scheme today. The review was undertaken to better understand the ways in which the Scheme could be further strengthened in the context of operating the Policy for Education in the Gaeltacht and the language planning process in general. SEALBHÚ, the research centre in DCU for Learning and Teaching the Irish Language undertook the review under direction of the department. It is available here.
Minister Martin said:
"Launching this report on the Review of the Language Assistants’ Scheme is a major step forward, despite the delay in its publication for various reasons. There is no doubt that the scheme is central to efforts being made by my own department and by the Department of Education to further strengthen the Irish language as a community and family language in the Gaeltacht areas as part of the implementation of the 20 year strategy for the Irish language. Through the Language Assistants’ Scheme and of course the other schemes and projects being administered by my department under the Community and Language Supports Programme, practical help is being provided through the network of Gaeltacht primary schools and post-primary schools to provide more opportunities for language acquisition and enrichment for those attending Gaeltacht schools. As a result of this review, ways have been identified in which the scheme could be strengthened substantially and systematically – using the resources which are and will be available. I would like to take this opportunity to thank SEALBHÚ – Research Centre in DCU for Learning and Teaching the Irish Language who undertook the review on request of the department, as well as appointing the steering committee to help to keep direction on all the work when it was ongoing. In addition, of course, were the bodies responsible for administering the scheme on behalf of the department – Muintearas and Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne – who were central to the research, with other stakeholders – especially the language assistants themselves."
Minister of State Chambers said:
"I am confident that implementation of some of the significant recommendations in the review has already begun. My department approved three years of subsistence worth up to €3.6 million in 2019. That investment will be used to facilitate Gaeltacht schools that are taking part in the department’s Recognition Scheme for Gaeltacht Schools having a language assistant for an extra six weeks per school year, equivalent to 32 weeks in total. That was in addition, of course, to what was done for the benefit of the scheme since the start of the 2018/2019 school year when extra resources were granted so that 32 more schools will benefit from the scheme – equivalent to every school participating in the Recognition Scheme for Gaeltacht Schools. As a result of all of this, 136 schools are benefitting from all of these changes in addition to 104 schools in 2017/2018. All of this means that 113 assistants have now been employed under the scheme compared to 100 assistants in 2018/2019 and they provide a service for six extra weeks per school year."
This plan is in conjunction with the commitment given under action 2.17 of the 2018 - 2022 Action Plan as well as the commitment given in relation to the scheme in the Policy for Education in the Gaeltacht 2017 – 2022.
ENDS