Tá Sinn Féin tar éis a pholasaí 32 Chontae don Ghaeilge san Oideachas ag gach leibhéal a fhoilsiú inniu, agus urlabhraí Gaeilge, Gaeltachta, Ealaíon, Cultúir, Turasóireachta agus Meán an pháirtí, Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD, ag rá gur ‘misean gealaí’ atá ann do múineadh na Gaeilge agus chun ceart a éascú don tumoideachas.

Dúirt an Teachta Ó Snodaigh:

“Is é seo an chéad uair riamh gur fhógair páirtí polaitiúil ar bith plean cuimsitheach don Ghaeilge ag gach leibhéal dár gcóras oideachais, agus dá gcuirfeadh Rialtas i bhfeidhm é, bheadh teorainn nua briste maidir le huaillmhian. Tá na moltaí indéanta, agus cuireadh €20 milliúin ar leataobh inár mBuiséad Malartach do 2025 chun tús a chur leis an obair.

“Fud fad an 87 leathanaigh, aimseoidh tú beartais daingne chun ár spriocanna a bhaint amach chun rochtain a chinntiú do cách ar ár dteanga, a húsáid a mhéadú ar fud na tíre, agus sa Ghaeltacht ach go háirithe, ní amháin ag freastal ach ag fás an t-éileamh chomh maith leis an soláthair ar an nGaeloideachas.

“Tá Sinn Féin ag rá go n-oibreodh muid chun an 30% den oileán – breis is 2 milliúin duine – atá in ann an Ghaeilge a labhairt a chumasú í a labhairt, agus tógáil ar an líon seo chun 50% a bhaint amach faoi 2050, dhá chéad bliain ó chuir an Gorta Mór tús lena mionlú.

“Táimid ag leagan amach an dul chun cinn a theastaíonn sa réamhscoil, sa bhunscoil, san iarbhunscoil, sa bhreis agus ardoideachas, san fhoghlaim aosta, agus in oiliúint na múinteoirí, Thuaidh agus Theas, ag dul i ngleic le ganntanais múinteora, cóiríocht míchuí, agus an gá le foghlaim oiriúnaithe, chomh maith le múineadh na Gaeilge thar lear, agus an díriú tosaíochta ar an oideachas Gaeltachta.

“Bhí dréacht-chreatlach a chuir Rialtas na 26 Chontae agus an tAire Oideachais Fhianna Fáil Norma Foley le chéile le déanaí amscaí, rinne sé neamhaird ar chomhairle na páirtithe leasmhara, agus theip air aitheantas a thabhairt do chearta ár leanaí tumoideachas i scoileanna lánGhaeilge a fháil más mian leo.

“D’éist Sinn Féin go géar le tuismitheoirí, scoileanna, gníomhairí, saineolaithe, agus eagraíochtaí, agus i Rialtas d’aithneodh muid an ceart sin, agus d’oibreodh muid chun é a chur i bhfeidhm, faoi stiúir Aire Sóisearach ar leith don Ghaeilge san Oideachas ó Dheas.

“Táimid tiomanta i dtaobh spriocanna céimnitheach don mhéadú, lena n-airítear an soláthar bunleibhéal Gaelscoile a dhúbailt laistigh de deich mbliain agus an soláthar dara leibhéal Gaelcholáiste a mhéadú thar an tréimhse céanna chun teacht leis an 6% ag Gaelscoil faoi láthair, ag obair i dtreo Gaelcholaiste áitiúil i ngach contae.

“I measc na príomh moltaí eile, d’athbhunódh muid na liúntais múinteoireachta lánGhaeilge agus Gaeltachta, bheadh Ciste Spreagtha do Naíonraí, Ciste Caipitil chun dul i ngleic leis an gcóiríocht atá go díréireach míchuí i scoileanna lánGhaeilge, chuirfeadh muid tús leis an obair ar choláiste oiliúna lánGhaeilge agus féachaint ar roghanna do Gaelollscoil, chomh maith le leasú curaclaim agus scrúdaithe.

“Leagann muid amach fís freisin don chur chuige nua atá ag teastáil in áit an gcreatlach lochtach do dhíolúine agus oideachas a oiriúnú do riachtanais gach leanbh, leanaí le sainriachtanais oideachasúil agus as cúlraí mionlaigh san áireamh. Chun cumasú, seachas fágadh ar lár, a chur ag croílár an oideachas Gaeilge, chuirfeadh muid ranganna saor in aisce ar fáil freisin do dhaoine fásta.

“Is fada ó éilíodh cur chuige uilíoch uile-leibhéal den saghas seo, ach ní raibh sé seachadta riamh, go dtí anois. In éineacht lenár bpolasaí ar leith don tithíocht agus pleanáil Gaeltachta, agus ár 7 ndícheall chun úsáid na Gaeilge a normalú agus a spreagadh i mbéal an phobail, tá na pleananna agus an t-uaillmhian ag Sinn Féin chun borradh as cuimse a thabhairt do ról na Gaeilge sa tsochaí agus pobail a chur ag labhairt Gaeilge athuair.”

A ‘Moonshot’ for How Irish is Taught and Realising a Right to Immersive Education – Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD

Sinn Féin has today launched its 32 County policy for Irish in Education at all levels, which the party’s spokesperson on Gaeilge, Gaeltacht, Arts, Culture, Tourism and Media, Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD, has described as a ‘moonshot’ for how Irish is taught and for realising a right to immersive education.

Teachta Ó Snodaigh said:

“This is the first time any political party has set out a comprehensive plan for the Irish language at all levels of our education system, and if pursued in Government would break new boundaries in terms of ambition. The proposals are achievable, and €20 million was set aside in our Alternative Budget for 2025 to start this work.

“Across the 87 pages, you will find concrete measures which would deliver on our aims of ensuring access for all to our language, and increasing its use nationwide, and in the Gaeltacht in particular, not alone meeting but actively growing demand as well as supply for Irish medium education.

“Sinn Féin is saying that we would work to empower the 30% of our island – over 2 million people – who can speak Irish to do so, and to building on that figure to achieve 50% by 2050, two centuries after An Gorta Mór led to its minoritization.

“We are setting out advances that should be made at pre-school, primary, post-primary, further and higher education, adult learning, and teacher training, both North and South, addressing teaching shortages, subpar accommodation, and the need for tailored learning, as well as the teaching of Irish beyond our shores, and a priority focus on Gaeltacht education.

“A recent draft framework produced by the 26 County Government and Fianna Fáil Education Minister Norma Foley was vague, ignored the advice of stakeholders, and failed to recognise the right of our children to immersive education in Irish Medium schools if they so choose.

“Sinn Féin has listened carefully to parents, schools, activists, experts, and organisations, and in Government we would recognise that right, and would work to make it a reality, overseen by a dedicated Junior Minister for Irish in Education in the South.

“We are committing to progressively increasing targets, including by doubling primary level Gaelscoil provision within a decade and increasing second-level Gaelcholáiste provision over the same period to match the 6% currently at Gaelscoil, working towards a local Gaelcholáiste in every county.

“Other key proposals include restoring the Irish medium and Gaeltacht teaching allowances, an Incentive Fund for Naíonraí, a Capital Fund to address disproportionately inadequate accommodation at Irish Medium schools, starting work on an Irish Medium teacher training college, and exploring options for an Irish Medium university, as well as curriculum and exam reform.

“We also set out our vision for the new approach which must replace the broken framework for exemptions and tailoring education to the needs of every child, including children with special educational needs and from minority backgrounds. Putting empowerment, not exclusion, at the heart of Irish language education is also why we promise to provide free classes for adults.

“This type of holistic, all levels approach to policy has long been called for but never delivered, until now. Together with our dedicated policy on Gaeltacht housing and planning, and our 7-steps to normalise and encourage use of Irish in the public sphere, Sinn Féin has the plans and the ambition to revolutionise the role of Irish in our society and get communities speaking as Gaeilge once again.

• Féadfaí polasaí Shinn Féin ‘Níos mó ná díreach an bealach a múintear í’ a léamh anseo
• Sinn Féin’s policy document ‘More than just the way it’s taught’ can be read here