Press Release: Minister Calleary approves €1.9m for the Language Assistants Scheme
Eisiúint Meáin
Dé hAoine, 15 Lúnasa 2025
€1.9m ceadaithe ag an Aire Calleary do Scéim na gCúntóirí Teanga
Ardú pá ceadaithe do Chúntóirí Teanga don scoilbhliain 2025/2026
Tá sé fógartha ag an Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta, Dara Calleary TD, go bhfuil síneadh bliana á chur le Scéim na gCúntóirí Teanga don scoilbhliain 2025/26 agus go bhfuil ardú pá de 10% á thabhairt do na cúntóirí teanga mar chuid de phacáiste ar fiú €1.964m é don bhliain.
Is iad na heagrais, Muintearas i nDún na nGall agus Réigiún an Iarthair, Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne i Réigiún an Deiscirt, agus Glór na nGael sna Bailte Seirbhíse Gaeilge (BSG) agus Líonraí Gaeilge atá ag riar na scéime seo thar ceann na Roinne – scéim atá ar an bhfód ón mbliain 1992.
Tá an scéim ag feidhmiú i 102 bunscoil, 29 iarbhunscoil agus scoil speisialta amháin ar fud na Gaeltachta agus i 11 bunscoil agus 5 iarbhunscoil atá lonnaithe i mBailte Seirbhíse Gaeltachta nó i Líonraí Gaeilge a bhfuil pleananna teanga i bhfeidhm iontu.
Mar thacaíocht don phróiseas pleanála teanga agus de bharr éilimh ón bpobal, tá sé i gceist anois an scéim a leathnú amach go dhá Bhaile Seirbhíse Gaeltachta eile, Cathair Chorcaí agus Baile Dhún na nGall agus beidh 13 scoil nua ag teacht faoi scáth na Scéime, dá bharr.
Fágann sin go mbeidh 161 scoil ar fad ag baint leas as an scéim anois.
De thoradh an ardaithe seo, beidh ráta pá na gcúntóirí teanga ag ardú ó €23.20 go €25.52 in aghaidh na huaire ó thus na scoilbliana nua.
Agus é ag déanamh an fhógra seo, dúirt an tAire Calleary:
“Tréaslaím le lucht riar na scéime agus na cúntóirí atá ag obair sna scoileanna as an obair den scoth atá ar bun acu chun deiseanna a chur ar fáil don aos óg an Ghaeilge a shealbhú agus a shaibhriú. Tá an tacaíocht a thugann na cúntóirí teanga atá fostaithe faoin scéim seo ag cuidiú go mór le hobair na scoileanna Gaeltachta agus lán-Gaeilge, ag spreagadh an chéad ghlúin eile agus ag cinntiú go rachaidh an Ghaeilge chun cinn. Tugann an t-ardú seo aitheantas don obair sin. Tabharfaidh an síneadh bliana seo freisin deis do mo Roinn labhairt leis na páirtithe leasmhara cuí le breis forbairtí a dhéanamh ar an scéim sna blianta amach romhainn.”
Media Release
Friday, 15th August 2025
Minister Calleary approves €1.9m for the Language Assistants Scheme
Pay rise approved for Language Assistants for the school year 2025/2026
The Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, has announced that the Language Assistants Scheme is being extended by a year for the school year 2025/26 and that a 10% pay rise is to be given to the language assistants as part of a package worth €1.964m for the year.
The scheme, which has been in existence since 1992, is managed on behalf of the Department by Muintearas in Donegal and the Western Region, Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne in the Southern Region, and Glór na nGael in the Gaeltacht Service Towns and Irish-Language Networks.
The scheme operates in 102 primary schools, 29 post-primary schools and one special school across the Gaeltacht and in 11 primary schools and 5 post-primary schools located in Gaeltacht Service Towns or in Irish-Language Networks in which language plans are in effect.
In support of the language planning process and due to public demand, the scheme is to be extended to two other Gaeltacht Service Towns, Cork City and Donegal Town, and 13 new schools will come under the auspices of the scheme as a result.
This will result in a total of 161 schools benefitting from the scheme.
As a result of this increase, the language assistants’ pay rate will increase from €23.20 to €25.52 per hour from the beginning of the new school year.
Making this announcement, Minister Calleary said:
“I congratulate both those involved in the management of the scheme and the assistants working in the schools on the outstanding work they are undertaking to provide young people with the opportunity to acquire and enrich their Irish. The support provided by the language assistants employed under this scheme is greatly assisting the work of Gaeltacht and Irish-medium schools, inspiring the next generation and ensuring the advancement of the Irish language. This increase represents a recognition of that work. The extension of one year also gives my Department a chance to engage with stakeholders in order to further develop the scheme in the years ahead.”