The number of students learning through Irish in schools and early education is targeted to double, as the development of the first comprehensive policy on Irish-medium education is announced. A consultation process to develop the first policy focused specifically on Irish-medium education outside the Gaeltacht is to be called this spring by Joe McHugh, Minister for Education. Last year, almost 62,500 students were enrolled in more than 300 Irish-medium schools nationwide. “There are about 62,000 young people in Irish-medium schools right across the country and I want to see an ambitious target set to double that,” Minister McHugh said. “Naíonraí and Irish-medium schools play a vital role in developing identity and fluency in our language," Minister McHugh said.

Source: Irish Examiner December 30, 2019 14:26 UTC