The future of the Republic's Gaeltacht areas could be threatened unless there is a major commitment to provide adequate resources for Gaeltacht schools, a new study has warned.
It found schools were "seriously under-resourced and under pressure" and without adequate teaching resources.
The report on the current state of schools in Gaeltacht areas was commissioned by An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta, the education council for Gaeltacht and Irish-medium schools, which was established in 2002.
The study was presented to Minister for Education Mary Hanafin yesterday.
It calls for greater efforts to be made to encourage teachers to improve their competency and to encourage those who are competent in the language.
It also recommends:
A new definition of Gaeltacht schools to include Gaelscoileanna which may lie outside traditional Gaeltacht areas
Gaeltacht schools should be administered as a separate educational sector with appropriate support and advisory services
Priority should be given to teaching resources
There should be an immediate a review of the facilities and investment for training primary and post-primary teachers
The work of the Gaeltacht schools and Gaelscoileanna should be viewed as part of a broader language planning strategy
Provision should be made for a comprehensive youth service to be established in the Gaeltacht.
According to Breandán MacCormaic, chairman of the council, the future of the Gaeltacht is threatened.
"If the perilous current state of Gaeltacht education is not resolved, the future of the Gaeltacht itself is threatened," he warned.
