106. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps her Department is taking to establish a fully independent, stand-alone Gaelcholáiste in County Clare; if she will address the limitations impacting students who wish to complete second-level education through the medium of the Irish language; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53903/26]

The Programme for Government 2025, Securing Ireland’s Future, includes a commitment to establish Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí where there is demand and support parents choosing Irish-medium education for their children.

In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a geographical information system, using data from a range of sources, including CSO census data, child benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.

If additional accommodation is required, the aim to try and facilitate this, as much as possible, by way of expansion of existing schools rather than establishing new schools. The expansion of existing schools is consistent with wider Government objectives under Project Ireland 2040 for an increased emphasis on compact growth.

In respect of post primary schools, new post primary schools must have a student enrolment capacity of 600-1,000 students and must be co-educational. A lower threshold of 400 students may apply to Gaelcholáistí.

Where parental patronage and language preference demand for school places has an emphasis for Irish medium education but the overall demographic growth in the area does not warrant the establishment of a Gaelcholáiste an alternative of establishing an Irish medium unit, or Aonad in an English-medium school can be considered.

By way of general information, parental preferences from the primary school survey have now been published and this provides a comprehensive evidence base to underpin decision-making on the level of demand for Irish medium provision. The survey will also provide a useful guide to inform both future primary and post-primary provision.

With respect to Co. Clare, there is sufficient existing and oncoming post primary school capacity to meet the forecasted school place needs, including the completed expansion of Ennis Community College. While school places will continue to be kept under review, there are currently no plans to establish a new school to meet demographic requirements in Co. Clare.

My department will continue to liaise with Clare County Council in respect of their county development plan and any associated local area plans with a view to identifying any potential long-term school accommodation requirements across school planning areas.

Finally, my department is fully committed to supporting Irish medium provision and has invested over €500m over the last 6 years in building new school buildings and modernising existing facilities for Irish medium schools across the country. My department will continue to support Irish medium provision as part of NDP rollout during the 2026 to 2030 period.