Gaeloideachas is a voluntary organisation in Ireland which aims support the development of Irish-medium schools. It supports the development of

Irish language Irish (Standard Irish: ), also known as Irish Gaelic or simply Gaelic ( ), is a Celtic language of the Indo-European language family. It is a member of the Goidelic languages of the Insular Celtic sub branch of the family and is indigenous ...

schools at preschool (outside the

Gaeltacht A ( , , ) is a district of Ireland, either individually or collectively, where the Irish government recognises that the Irish language is the predominant vernacular, or language of the home. The districts were first officially recognised ...

) and primary and secondary levels in the Republic of Ireland. Originally formed in 1973 as ''Gaelscoileanna Teo'', and following a reorganisation and expansion in remit, it was renamed to ''Gaeloideachas'' in 2016.

History

Formation

The organisation was established in 1973 as ''Gaelscoileanna Teo''. Its remit was primarily to support Gaelscoileanna (Irish-medium schools at primary and secondary level), and to support those "wishing to set up uchschools".

Reorganisation

In 2014, as part of a reorganisation of how funding was allocated through ''

Foras na Gaeilge (, " Irish Institute"; ) is a public body responsible for the promotion of the Irish language throughout the island of Ireland, including both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. It was set up on 2 December 1999, assuming the rol ...

'' (FnaG), Gaelscoileanna Teo was appointed as one of the six "lead" Foras na Gaeilge-funded Irish language organisations- with a responsibility for the support of Irish-language medium education at preschool (outside the Gaeltacht) and primary and second-levels in the Republic of Ireland. As part of this reorganisation, for example, Forbairt Naíonraí Teoranta (a voluntary organisation that worked with Irish-medium pre-schools) was merged into Gaelscoileanna Teo. Forbairt Naíonraí Teoranta (FNT) had been founded in 2003, as a successor to An Comhchoiste Réamhscolaíochta, which dated from 1978. FNT provided support in establishing and running ''

naíonra A (; plural: ) is an Irish medium playgroup for pre-school children, which follows the principle of Total Early Immersion. Definitions Republic of Ireland In the Republic of Ireland, a ''Naíonra'' or ''Naíscoil'' is an Irish-medium pre-sc ...

í'' (pre-schools), ''naíolanna'' (crèches), parent/guardian and toddler groups, after-school services and summer camps. It also assisted in the provision of insurance and grants to ''naíonraí'', and ran Irish-language courses for their staff. It was reported, in January 2014, that FNT (which had received 1 million Euro in funding from FnaG in 2011). was one of several organisations that would no longer receive state funding. As part of this "major reorganization of Irish language organizations in 2014", FNT was subsumed into Gaelscoileanna Teo. In 2016, to "reflect its broader remit", the combined organisation changed its name to Gaeloideachas.

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