46. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on progress for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54124/26]

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

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.

The Policy for Irish-Medium Education outside of the Gaeltacht was launched in November 2025. The policy sets out the department's vision that high-quality Irish-medium education will be available to all, in inclusive and multicultural educational settings.

The Taskforce on Models of Provision for Irish-Medium Education, which was established under the Policy for Irish-Medium Education outside of the Gaeltacht, is providing a platform for collaboration between the department and key stakeholders to identify a pathway to increase the provision of Irish-medium education. A range of organisations and stakeholders whose input will be important in agreeing recommendations in this area have nominated members to the taskforce.

The work of this taskforce will inform the approach in considering the Irish-medium post-primary provision in areas such as Castlebar. In every area, the proximity and capacity at existing Irish-medium provision will form part of the consideration. The current good capacity at Coláiste Muire, Tuar Mhic Éadaigh, which provides post-primary education through the medium of Irish, will be relevant when examining the requirement for additional provision in the Castlebar area.

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.

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.