‘Scoil Spreagtha’ scheme to end in June 2025.
It is with great regret that Gael Linn announces that the ‘Scoil Spreagtha’ scheme, as things stand, will not continue during the 2025/2026 academic year due to funding challenges. Scoil Spreagtha has been run and funded as a two-year pilot and despite our best efforts, to date, we have been unable to secure the necessary financial support to sustain and develop the scheme.
Launched in November 2023, Scoil Spreagtha, an accredited scheme for English-medium primary schools, aims to inspire schools to showcase and expand their efforts to promote the use of Irish in the school setting. The scheme has proven to be extremely successful and has made significant strides in its short existence, inspiring what have been enriching educational opportunities for 82 schools and 14,785 pupils. A further 80-plus schools and over 17,000 pupils have declared an interest in taking part in the scheme, resulting in a total demand of over 160 schools and 31,000 pupils as things stand. Regrettably, without the appropriate level of funding, Gael Linn will not be able to offer the scheme for the 2025/2026 academic year.
“The value, impact, effectiveness and demand for Scoil Spreagtha is indisputable and we are deeply disappointed that we have not been able to secure the appropriate level of funding that it deserves to date in order to develop the scheme as intended after its successful pilot,” said Séamas Mac Eochaidh, Educational Policy Manager at Gael Linn. “Gael Linn remains committed to developing the scheme in the event of appropriate funding being made available and we are eager to explore any opportunities to continue what has proven to be a groundbreaking and invaluable scheme.”
For more information, please contact:
Séamas Mac Eochaidh
Educational Policy Manager
Gael Linn
079 23 444 890
seamas@gael-linn.ie
Other Information
- A copy of academic research that was conducted on the scheme’s value can be found here.
- Overview of schools/pupils can be found here.
- A copy of feedback from schools can be found here.
- A copy of ‘All You Need To Know’ about the scheme can be found here.
