The shortage of third-level education through Irish will have a “serious and crippling” impact on the State’s recruitment targets, the Oireachtas committee on further and higher education has been warned. The committee met to discuss the Irish language in third-level education. Foras na Gaeilge told the committee that currently learning Irish outside of school or third level degrees is dealt with in an "ad hoc manner". In Wales, education-related legislation includes a State-sponsored approach to learning Welsh outside of school. There is a National Institute for Welsh Learning which is responsible for supporting people of all ages to learn Welsh, and for developing innovation in Welsh learning, and each local authority must have a plan for adult and community learning."

Source: Irish Examiner February 04, 2026 18:52 UTC