Minister for Education and Youth Hildegarde Naughton has 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 the Action Plan for Irish in English-Medium Schools and the Policy 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.
Mol ar líne ‘Gaeilge do Thuismitheoirí’ seolta ag an Aire Naughton chun tacú le foghlaim na Gaeilge sa bhaile
Sheol an tAire Oideachais agus Óige, Hildegarde Naughton, ‘Gaeilge do Thuismitheoirí’ inniu, mol nua ar líne a cruthaíodh chun tacú le tuismitheoirí agus le caomhnóirí agus iad ag cabhrú lena gcuid leanaí an Ghaeilge a fhoghlaim agus a úsáid, sa bhaile agus sa saol laethúil.
Is é Gaeloideachas a d’fhorbair an acmhainn ar líne, le tacaíocht ó Fhoras na Gaeilge agus le maoiniú ón Roinn Oideachais agus Óige faoin bPlean Gnímh don Ghaeilge i Scoileanna Meán-Bhéarla agus faoin bPolasaí don Oideachas lán-Ghaeilge lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht.
Sheol an tAire Naughton agus an láithreoir teilifíse agus tionchaire, Síle Seoige, an acmhainn inniu ag ócáid a d’óstaigh Scoil Náisiúnta Naomh Eoin Aspal, Cnoc na Cathrach agus Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh i nGaillimh i gcomhpháirt.
Cuireann an mol nua tacaíocht phraiticiúil agus inrochtana ar fáil do theaghlaigh, lena n-áirítear acmhainní, gníomhaíochtaí agus treoir chun cabhrú le tuismitheoirí dul i ngleic leis an nGaeilge in éineacht lena gcuid leanaí, beag beann ar a leibhéal líofachta féin.
Ag labhairt di ag an seoladh, dúirt an tAire Oideachais agus Óige, atá bunaithe i nGaillimh:
“Cuirim fáilte mhór roimh sheoladh an mhoil acmhainní nua ‘Gaeilge do Thuismitheoirí’, a thacóidh le teaghlaigh dul i ngleic leis an nGaeilge agus í a úsáid sa saol laethúil.
“Ba mhaith liom go mór go mbeadh níos mó Gaeilge á labhairt i dtithe, i scoileanna agus i bpobail ar fud na tíre. Tá gealltanas i gClár an Rialtais tacú le húsáid na Gaeilge agus í a spreagadh, agus creidim go bhfuil ról ríthábhachtach ag tuismitheoirí agus ag teaghlaigh, i gcomhar lenár scoileanna, chun tacú leis an uaillmhian sin a bhaint amach.
“Ceann de mo chuid tosaíochtaí mar Aire is ea muinín níos mó sa Ghaeilge labhartha a chothú i measc daoine óga. Táimid ag iarraidh go mbeidh scoláirí compordach agus muiníneach ag labhairt na Gaeilge ar fhágáil na scoile dóibh, ní go díreach staidéar a dhéanamh uirthi. Cuirfidh an mol nua seo acmhainní praiticiúla, inrochtana ar fáil chun cabhrú le teaghlaigh tacú leis an nGaeilge sa bhaile, beag beann ar a leibhéal líofachta féin.
“Mar thoradh ar an nasc idir an baile agus an scoil a neartú, cruthóidh an tionscnamh seo níos mó deiseanna do leanaí agus do theaghlaigh an Ghaeilge a chloisteáil, a labhairt agus taitneamh a bhaint aisti le chéile. Ar deireadh thiar, is mian liom go bhforbródh gach duine óg caidreamh dearfach leis an nGaeilge agus an mhuinín í a úsáid ina saol laethúil.”
Dúirt Bláthnaid ní Ghréacháin, Ardfheidhmeannach, Ghaeloideachas:
“Cruthaíodh ‘Gaeilge do Thuismitheoirí’ agus sprioc shoiléir amháin aige: is é sin tacú le tuismitheoirí agus caomhnóirí agus iad ag cabhrú lena leanaí an Ghaeilge a fhoghlaim agus a úsáid. Tá a fhios againn go dtagann teaghlaigh chuig an nGaeilge agus taithí de chineálacha éagsúla acu, leibhéil éagsúla muiníne acu agus riachtanais éagsúla acu. B’fhéidir nach bhfuil mórán Gaeilge nó nach bhfuil Gaeilge ar bith ag cuid acu, agus is cainteoirí líofa iad cuid eile a úsáideann an Ghaeilge gach lá sa bhaile.
“Tugann an mol seo eolas praiticiúil, treoir agus tacaíocht le chéile in aon áit amháin, rud a chabhraíonn le tuismitheoirí mothú níos muiníní agus níos nasctha, is cuma cén leibhéal Gaeilge atá acu féin. Tá súil againn go mbeidh sé ina acmhainn luachmhar do theaghlaigh ar fud na hÉireann agus ina thacaíocht dhearfach i dtithe, i scoileanna agus i bpobail.”
Tá Gaeilge do Thuismitheoirí ar fáil ar líne anois ag www.irishforparents.ie.