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From:Department of Education and Youth

Minister for Education and Youth Hildegarde Naughton has today launched 'Irish for Parents,' a new online hub designed to support parents and guardians in helping their children learn and use Irish both at home and in everyday life.

The online resource has been developed by Gaeloideachas with support from Foras na Gaeilge and funded by the Department of Education and Youth under theAction Plan for Irish in English-Medium Schoolsand thePolicy for Irish-Medium Education outside of the Gaeltacht.

The resource was launched today by Minister Naughton and TV presenter and influencer Síle Seoige at an event co-hosted by St John the Apostle Knocknacarra National School and Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh in Galway.

The new hub provides practical and accessible supports for families, including resources, activities and guidance to help parents engage with Irish alongside their children, regardless of their own level of fluency.

Speaking at the launch, the Galway-based Minister for Education and Youth said:

"I warmly welcome the launch of the new ‘Irish for Parents’ resource hub, which will support families to engage with and use Irish in everyday life.

“I am very keen to see more Irish being spoken and used in homes, schools and communities across the country. The Programme for Government contains a clear commitment to support and encourage the use of Irish, and I believe parents and families have a vital role to play alongside our schools in achieving that ambition.

“One of my priorities as Minister is to build greater confidence in spoken Irish among young people. We want students to leave school feeling comfortable and confident speaking Irish, not simply studying it. This new hub will provide practical, accessible resources to help families support Irish at home, regardless of their own level of fluency.

“By strengthening the connection between home and school, this initiative will create more opportunities for children and families to hear, speak and enjoy Irish together. Ultimately, I want every young person to develop a positive relationship with the Irish language and the confidence to use it in their daily lives."

Bláthnaid ní Ghréacháin, CEO of Gaeloideachas, said:

"’Irish for Parents’ was created with one clear goal in mind: to support parents and guardians as they help their children learn and use Irish. We know that families come to Irish with different experiences, different levels of confidence and different needs. Some may have little or no Irish, while others are fluent speakers using Irish every day at home.

"This hub brings together practical information, guidance and support in one place, helping parents feel more confident and connected, whatever their own level of Irish. We hope it will become a valuable resource for families across Ireland and a positive support in homes, schools and communities."

Irish for Parents is now available online at www.irishforparents.ie.

Gaeloideachas is the national support organisation for Irish-medium education. The organisation works with parents, schools, communities and education stakeholders to support and strengthen Irish-medium education through information, guidance, advocacy and practical supports.

The Department of Education and Youth's Irish-language policies aim to strengthen the teaching, learning and use of Irish across the education system. The Action Plan for Irish in English-Medium Schools (2025-2027) focuses on improving pupils' experiences of learning Irish by promoting positive attitudes towards the language, increasing opportunities to use spoken Irish, supporting access for all learners, and providing schools and teachers with practical supports and resources.

The Policy for Irish-Medium Education outside of the Gaeltacht sets out the Department of Education and Youth’s vision for Irish-medium education, including that “high-quality Irish-medium education will be available to all, in inclusive and multicultural educational settings”. Supports are being provided under the policy, including language support hours for Irish, development of resources and the provision of guidance and teacher professional learning opportunities. The Policy on Gaeltacht Education aims to strengthen and ensure the provision of high quality Irish-medium education in Gaeltacht language-planning areas through a range of actions and targeted supports.

Foras na Gaeilge was established in December 1999 as the body responsible for promoting the Irish language throughout the island of Ireland. Among its responsibilities are supporting Irish-medium education and the teaching of Irish. Foras na Gaeilge also has a role in advising Government, North and South, as well as public bodies and other groups in the private and voluntary sectors, on all matters relating to the Irish language.