DUP minister Paul Givan agrees to ‘look again’ at funding options for Irish language schools’ scheme

Education minister Paul Givan has agreed to “look again” at funding options for an Irish language scheme involving over 80 primary schools that is facing the axe within weeks.

This is according to SDLP MLA Patsy McGlone who facilitated a meeting between the DUP minister and Gael Linn, the organisation running the hugely successful Scoil Spreagtha pilot scheme.

Currently operating in 82 schools, with another 80 schools on a waiting list to get involved, it supports primary pupils in learning and speaking Irish.

Despite its success and demand among schools, the scheme, funded by all-Ireland Irish language body Foras na Gaeilge, is set to end in June.

This is due to Foras na Gaeilge - which itself receives around three-quarters of its funding from Dublin, and around a quarter from Stormont - having been forced to make savings, initially of almost €818,000.

Last month Dublin announced a one-off €630,000 package for Foras na Gaeilge, which meant it could reverse the bulk of announced cuts, but is still facing a shortfall of around €190,000.

In April, the Irish News reported Mr Givan had made a u-turn on a decision not to meet with Gael Linn to discuss Scoil Spreagtha.

In a letter to the group in March, the minister declined a meeting, citing time constraints.

Mr Givan had last year faced criticism for meeting with members of the paramilitary-linked Loyalist Communities Council to discuss concerns over a new Irish language school in east Belfast, while earlier in the year declining to meet with Irish language group Conradh na Gaeilge.

Mr Given agreed to the meeting with Gael Linn after an intervention by Mid Ulster SDLP MLA Patsy McGlone.

The meeting, involving Gael Linn CEO Réamonn Ó Ciaráin, took place on Tuesday, and he outlined the striking success of Scoil Spreagtha, which has seen around 15,000 primary pupils develop valuable second language skills.

When the pilot was launched in 2023, with a plan to work with 10 schools, over 130 expressed an interest.

Gael Linn has never had a need to contact a school themselves about the scheme, due to the overwhelming demand.

Gael Linn educational policy manager Séamas Mac Eochaidh told the Irish News the meeting with Mr Givan was a “rich educational discussion” about the scheme.

“We appreciated the opportunity to highlight the educational benefit that the scheme has created, and how it can play a part of the minister’s vision for an educational system which is totally life-transforming, which narrows inequality, and one that allows a young person to achieve their full potential,” he said.

“We want to ensure that a child has the chance to make the most of their ability and become the best version of themselves, and we believe that teaching and learning a second language at the primary level is fundamental to the vision of the department.”

Mr Mac Eochaidh said Gael Linn commends the Department of Education’s “commitment to investing in and supporting high-quality professional development for teachers”, adding: “We would welcome any opportunity to collaborate with the department on that issue.”

The group also told the minister they were keen for their model to be utilised in teaching young pupils other languages, including Ulster Scots.

Patsy McGlone explained: “I reached out personally to the minister to arrange this meeting and appreciate him engaging with us in good faith. While we received no firm commitments from the Minister today, he has agreed to look again at what funding options may be available and I hope he will recognise the huge value of the Scoil Spreagtha scheme.”

Mr McGlone, who is the SDLP’s Irish language spokesperson, praised Gael Linn for putting forward a “passionate and detailed case” for the continued funding of Scoil Spreagtha.

“We know the huge benefits that learning a secondary language brings in other subjects and it would be a real shame for young people to miss out on this,” he said.

“Schemes like Scoil Spreagtha are vital to the renewal and growth of the Irish language and the Executive and Education Minister have a duty to make Irish accessible to all who want to learn.”

In response last night a spokesman for the Department of Education said: “Following the meeting, the minister has agreed that officials will engage further with Gael Linn regarding the Scoil Spreagtha scheme.”