From:Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless TD, and Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, today welcomed the establishment of a new sectoral working group for tertiary education to support the development of Irish-language skills across the public sector.Government has noted the establishment of the new sectoral working group on tertiary education requirements for Irish Language in the public sector, a key action in the Action Plan for Irish Language Public Services 2026-2028.The working group is being jointly convened by the two Departments. It will consider how higher education, further education and training, apprenticeships, upskilling, reskilling and lifelong learning can contribute to increasing Irish-language competence across the public sector.This work will support the delivery of the National Plan for Irish Language Public Services 2024-2030 and the Government’s objective that, by 31 December 2030, at least 20% of those recruited to public bodies will be competent in Irish.Government also noted the introduction of the New Tertiary Pathway to Primary Initial Teacher Education, due to commence in September 2026. This will provide a diversified pathway into primary teaching and demonstrates how innovative approaches can support access to public sector employment where Irish language proficiency is required.Minister Lawless said:

"The tertiary education sector has an important role to play in supporting the delivery of Irish-language public services.

"This new working group will look at how higher education, further education and training, apprenticeships, upskilling and lifelong learning can help build the Irish-language skills needed across the public sector.

"The New Tertiary Pathway to Primary Initial Teacher Education is a practical example of how we can broaden access to public sector careers where Irish-language proficiency is required."

"The National Plan for Irish Language Public Services is central to increasing the availability of public services through Irish.

"This working group will support that work by looking at how education and training can help increase Irish-language competence across the public service, which is essential to increasing and improving the existing provision of bilingual public services.

"Its establishment clearly demonstrates the momentum behind the implementation of the National Plan, and associated Action Plan which I published in January, towards achieving the public sector’s ambitious targets as it relates to the Irish language."

Membership of the group comprises senior officials from the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht and key stakeholders across Government, relevant agencies and the tertiary sector. The first meeting of the group will take place on 30 June 2026.

TheNational Plan for Irish Language Public Services 2024-2030was published in October 2024.TheAction Plan for Irish Language Public Services 2026-2028was published in January 2026.

The relevant action is 4.3.3 (T):"A sectoral working group will be established and convened by DFHERIS and DRCDG to consider how the tertiary education sector can contribute to achieving public sector targets as set out in the Official Languages Acts 2003-2021. This group will include representatives from relevant state agencies, the higher and further education sectors, and other stakeholders as appropriate. The working group will consider how the full range of tertiary education provision across higher education, further education and training, apprenticeship, upskilling, reskilling and lifelong learning can support the delivery of public sector targets. This working group will carry out whatever research is deemed necessary to inform its work and in line with any other legislative and policy requirements."

The new working group is being jointly convened by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht and will be cochaired at Principal Officer level.

The New Tertiary Pathway to Primary Initial Teacher Education will commence in September 2026.