411. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Oideachais agus Óige cén fáth nach bhfuil an méadú ar an gcóimheas idir daltaí agus múinteoirí a cuireadh i bhfeidhm i nGaelscoileanna in 2012 ar chúiseanna déine aisiompaithe ó shin, go háirithe anois agus an liúntas do mhúinteoirí bunscoile i nGaelscoileanna a baineadh ag an am sin curtha ar fáil arís; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [49718/26]

Tá leas bainte ag Gaelscoileanna ón tús áite a tugadh do laghdú ar an gcóimheas idir daltaí agus múinteoirí i mbunscoileanna i mbuiséid le déanaí. Tá an cóimheas leithdháilte múinteoirí anois ag meán de mhúinteoir ranga amháin do gach 23 dalta i ngach bunscoil, an cóimheas is fabhraí a chonacthas riamh ar an leibhéal bunscoile. Cuidíonn laghdú trí phointe ar an sceideal coinneála, a tugadh isteach in 2021, le scoileanna a bheadh i mbaol poist mhúinteoireachta a chailleadh murach sin.

Sheol mo roinn an Polasaí don Oideachas Lán-Ghaeilge lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht i mí na Samhna 2025. Ceann de na gníomhartha faoin bpolasaí chun tacú le forbairt inniúlacht teanga na mac léinn agus na ndaltaí is ea uaireanta tacaíochta teanga a leithdháileadh don Ghaeilge ar bhonn céimnithe. Tá na huaireanta sin curtha ar fáil d’iar-bhunscoileanna lán-Ghaeilge agus do bhunscoileanna lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht a bhfuil stádas DEIS acu ó scoilbhliain 2025/26. Cuidíonn na huaireanta sin le scoileanna freastal ar riachtanais teanga éagsúla na ndaltaí, lena n-áirítear iad siúd a bhfuil an Ghaeilge agus an Béarla araon ina dteangacha breise acu, agus saibhreas teanga na ndaltaí uile a fhorbairt.

Faoi Chlár an Rialtais tá gealltanas ann go mbeidh sé mar aidhm cóimheas ginearálta idir daltaí agus múinteoirí ag an mbunleibhéal a laghdú go dtí 19:1. Táim ag smaoineamh ar an mbealach is fearr chun tuilleadh dul chun cinn a dhéanamh sa réimse seo mar chuid den phróiseas buiséadach bliantúil.

Gaelscoileanna have benefitted from the prioritisation given to reducing the pupil teacher ratio in primary schools in recent budgets. The teacher allocation ratio now stands at an average of 1 classroom teacher for every 23 pupils in all primary schools, the most favourable ratio ever seen at primary level. A three-point reduction in the retention schedule, which was introduced in 2021, assists schools that would otherwise be at risk of losing teaching posts.

The Policy for Irish-Medium Education outside of the Gaeltacht was launched by my department in November 2025. One of the actions under the policy to support students’ and pupils’ development of language proficiency is the allocation of language support hours for Irish on a phased basis. These hours have been made available to Irish-medium post-primary schools and to primary schools outside of the Gaeltacht with DEIS status from the 2025/26 school year. These hours help schools to support the diverse language needs of pupils, including those for whom both Irish and English are additional languages, and to develop the linguistic richness of all pupils.

Under the Programme for Government there is a commitment to aim to reduce the general pupil teacher ratio at primary level to 19:1. I am considering how best to make further progress in this area as part of the annual budgetary process.