451 Leitrim children without gaelscoil access, group warns
According to An Foras Pátrúnachta, 451 Leitrim children who currently have no access to a gaelscoil.
An estimated 451 primary school children in County Leitrim do not have access to a gaelscoil, according to figures highlighted this week by An Foras Pátrúnachta.
The figures are based on data from the Department of Education and Youth’s Primary School Survey, which found that 12.4% of parents in Leitrim would like their child’s school to operate through Irish.
According to An Foras Pátrúnachta, that translates to an estimated 451 children who currently have no access to a gaelscoil.
An Foras Pátrúnachta, the largest patron of Irish-medium schools in Ireland at both primary and secondary level, highlighted the findings this week as part of a call for greater provision of Irish-medium education.
According to the organisation, there are currently just two gaelscoileanna among Leitrim’s 37 mainstream primary schools, serving 7% of pupils in the county.
An Foras Pátrúnachta says the survey results indicate demand for Irish-medium education exceeds current provision in Leitrim.
Nationally, the survey found that 13% of parents would like their child’s school to operate through Irish.
However, An Foras Pátrúnachta argues that the true level of demand may be significantly higher.
Commenting on the publication of the survey results, the General Secretary of An Foras Pátrúnachta, Caoimhín Ó hÉaghra, said that: “Although the results show considerable unmet demand, we believe that actual demand is significantly higher.
“National research published this year by government body Foras na Gaeilge (The Irish Language Attitudes Survey 2025) put demand at 45%.
“The disparity is a result of the much disputed and restrictive phrasing in the Department’s survey question.
“Regardless of the disparity, it is clear that we need more gaelscoileanna in order to cater for the children who do not have that option across Leitrim.”
An Foras Pátrúnachta said it believes the Department of Education and Youth should put in place a blueprint for the provision of Irish-medium education at both primary and secondary level.
The organisation is also encouraging parents who wish to have their children educated through Irish to petition the Government to make access to a gaelscoil a reality for them.
The organisation also pointed to IMEASC (Irish Medium Education At School), a parents’ group which believes a lack of legislation is the root cause of the shortage of Irish-medium education provision by the Department of Education.
An Foras Pátrúnachta currently has 80 schools under its patronage and says it aims to increase the number of Irish-medium schools so that any parent who chooses Irish-medium education can access it.
The Department of Education and Youth has been contacted for comment.