TD calls for mandatory Gaeltacht course to be introduced to Leaving Cert

Ellen O'Donoghue

Fianna Fáil's education spokesperson and Tipperary North TD Ryan O'Meara has called for a mandatory Gaeltacht course to be introduced for all Leaving Certificate students.

He has asked the Minister for Education to begin exploring how to change young people's attitudes to the Irish language by incorporating a mandatory course into the curriculum.

Mr O'Meara said the step is "essential" not only for improving language skills, but to transform how young people see the Irish language.

"This isn't just about exams or fluency, it's about changing attitudes. Right now, too many students associate Irish with pressure, boredom or frustration, and not with pride or identity," he said.

"At the heart of this is a question we’ve all heard: ‘How can someone go through 14 years of education and still be unable to hold a basic conversation in Irish?’ That shouldn’t be the case. What I’m proposing may seem ambitious, but that’s where this conversation needs to begin. We are witnessing a cultural renaissance in Ireland, with a newfound Grá for our native language, and we need to support and harness that momentum."

He said he has formally asked the Minister to initiate departmental planning for the introduction of compulsory Gaeltacht stays, suggesting it could become a key part of the Leaving Cert curriculum.

"Currently, many students view Irish as just another subject, something they’re required to study, rather than something they feel connected to. For too many, Irish evokes a groan or a huff, not a sense of pride or enthusiasm. That needs to change."

“We need to create more immersive experiences so that young people see Irish as a living language, something they can use and enjoy in real life, not just a subject confined to the classroom," he added.

“By ensuring all students have access to a Gaeltacht course, we offer them a chance to hear the language spoken naturally, use it in daily situations, and to develop a genuine connection to it. Immersion is the best way to learn and gain a Grá for our language.”

“If Irish is going to remain a core subject in our education system, then we have an obligation to ensure students aren’t just learning about it, but living it.”

“This is about more than language. It’s about our national identity, our heritage, and our future. We cannot accept a system where, after over a decade of learning, students are still unable to speak our national language. Something clearly isn’t working, and we need to change that.”