I dtaighde nua a rinneadh i gColáiste Mhuire gan Smál (CMgS) ar theaghlaigh sa Ghaeltacht, féachadh ar nádúr, scóip agus scála úsáid laethúil na Gaeilge i dteaghlaigh na Gaeltachta. An tAire Jack Chambers, TD, a sheol an tuarascáil nua, agus tá scagadh déanta ar na figiúirí daonáirimh is déanaí mar aon le hanailís dhomhain ar na pleananna teanga ó 20 limistéar pleanála teanga i gcomhthéacs an tseachadta teanga i dteaghlaigh Ghaeltachta. Tugtar mionsonraí freisin sa tuarascáil ar chreat le haghaidh plean chun tacú le teaghlaigh ar mian leo a gclann a thógáil le Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht.
Tuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta i gcomhar leis an Roinn Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán, a choimisiúnaigh agus a mhaoinigh an taighde, agus tá léargas úr ann ar líon agus ar lonnaíocht na dteaghlach i limistéir Ghaeltachta a bhfuil a gclann á dtógáil le Gaeilge acu mar aon le tuairisc ar na deiseanna a bhíonn ag tuismitheoirí agus na dúshláin a bhíonn rompu agus iad ag tógáil a gclann le Gaeilge. Staidéar ar Theaghlaigh atá ag Tógáil a gClann le Gaeilge Laistigh de Limistéir Oifigiúla Gaeltachta an teideal atá ar an tuarascáil deiridh.
Léirítear sa taighde nach bhfuil Gaeilge á labhairt go laethúil ach ag 2,889 teaghlach sa Ghaeltacht, agus is ionann é sin agus díreach 23% den 12,586 teaghlach ar an iomlán a bhfuil cónaí orthu i limistéar oifigiúil Gaeltachta. Moltar go láidir sa taighde go ndéanfaí gach iarracht tacaíocht, treoir, agus comhairle a chur ar fáil do na teaghlaigh atá ag tógáil a gclann le Gaeilge ionas nach dtiocfaidh lagmhisneach orthu agus iad ag iarraidh an Ghaeilge a chur ar aghaidh chuig an gcéad ghlúin eile.
Moltar freisin sa tuarascáil go ndéanfaí tuilleadh taighde ar theaghlaigh nach mbíonn Gaeilge á labhairt acu sa bhaile chun léargas a fháil ar na cúiseanna a roghnaíonn teaghlaigh teanga amháin seachas teanga eile. Moltar sa tuarascáil go bhfuil sé tábhachtach plean cinnte a leagan amach don todhchaí, bunaithe ar fhráma tagartha ina n-aithnítear éagsúlacht na gcleachtas teanga sa Ghaeltacht.
Agus an tuarascáil á seoladh inniu aige, dúirt Jack Chambers, TD, Príomh-Aoire agus Aire Stáit Spóirt, na Gaeltachta agus na Cosanta: “Beidh an tuarascáil seo an-úsáideach don eagraíocht féin agus í ag cur leis na gníomhaíochtaí a chuireann sí ar fáil faoin bpróiseas pleanála teanga do theaghlaigh atá ag tógáil nó ag iarraidh a gclann a thógáil le Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht. Beidh an taighde úsáideach chomh maith d’eagraíochtaí eile atá gníomhach, i gcomhar le Tuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta, ag cur tacaíochtaí teanga-láraithe ar fáil sa Ghaeltacht do theaghlaigh Ghaeltachta. Gan dabht, tá obair thábhachtach ar siúl ag Tuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta mar thacaíocht don phróiseas pleanála teanga agus chuige sin, bhí mé an-sásta go raibh ar mo chumas, níos túisce i mbliana, deontas suas le €1.6m a cheadú don eagraíocht thar thréimhse trí bliana, chun cur ar a gcumas cur lena gcuid tacaíochtaí do theaghlaigh Ghaeltachta.”
Ag an seoladh i mBaile na hAbhann, dúirt an Dr Neasa Ní Chuaig, an Príomhthaighdeoir in CMgS: “Léiríonn na figiúirí seo an claonadh i dtreo an Bhéarla atá i dteaghlaigh na Gaeltachta agus an tacaíocht
a bheidh ag teastáil uathu siúd ar mian leo a gclann a thógáil le Gaeilge sna ceantair Ghaeltachta. Tugann an taighde seo léargas maith dúinn ar a bhfuil ag tarlú sna ceantair Ghaeltachta ó thaobh chleachtas teanga an teaghlaigh de agus tá súil againn go gcuideoidh an taighde seo le Tuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta agus le heagraíochtaí eile tacaíocht agus cúnamh a chur ar fáil do na teaghlaigh ar mhaith leo a gclann a thógáil le Gaeilge”.
An Dr Neasa Ní Chuaig a stiúir an fhoireann taighde, agus bhí an Dr Conchúr Ó Brolcháin, an Dr TJ Ó Ceallaigh agus an Dr Karen Ní Chlochasaigh ar an bhfoireann. Is baill foirne iad sin sa Roinn um Oideachas Teanga agus Litearthachta i nDámh an Oideachais i gColáiste Mhuire gan Smál.
Chuir Sorcha Ní Chéilleachair, Ceannasaí Thuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta, fáilte roimh an tuarascáil agus shonraigh gur céim mhór atá sa taighde seo chun tuiscint a fháil ar na patrúin úsáidte teanga laistigh de theaghlaigh Ghaeltachta. “Tá tábhacht mhór leis an taighde seo le haghaidh obair Thuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta. Den chéad uair, tá staitisticí iontaofa againn maidir leis an úsáid teanga i limistéir Ghaeltachta bunaithe ar an aonad teaghlaigh, agus tá súil againn go mbeimid in ann leas a bhaint as na torthaí chun pleanáil le haghaidh imeachtaí, tacaíochtaí agus taighde amach anseo.”
Agus é ag caint ar a thábhachtaí atá an taighde seo, dúirt an tOllamh Eugene Wall, Uachtarán CMgS: “Déanann Coláiste Mhuire gan Smál iarracht tuiscint ar an nGaeilge agus ar an gcultúr Gaelach, agus bród ann, a chothú. Cuirim fáilte roimh an taighde tábhachtach nuálach seo, agus tréaslaím leis an bhfoireann taighde as an tsárobair atá déanta acu. Cuireann an tuarascáil leis an traidisiún saibhir beoga taighde anseo sa Choláiste, agus leanann an taighde sin den bheartas oideachais a mhúnlú sa chomhthéacs náisiúnta agus idirnáisiúnta araon.”
Tá an tuarascáil ‘Staidéar ar Theaghlaigh atá ag Tógáil a gClann le Gaeilge Laistigh de Limistéir Oifigiúla Gaeltachta’,ar fáil ag Taighde Teaghlaigh.
Déanfaidh taighdeoirí na tuarascála cur i láthair ar líne ag 4.00in Dé Céadaoin 4 Lúnasa. Is féidir clárú don chur i láthair anseo.
Minister launches MIC research into families raising children through Irish in Gaeltacht areas
New research by Mary Immaculate College (MIC) has examined the nature, scope and scale of the day-to-day use of the Irish language amongst families living in Gaeltacht areas. Launched by Minister Jack Chambers TD, the new report provides a re-interrogation of the most up to date census figures and an in-depth analysis of the language plans from 20 language planning areas in the context of language transmission in Gaeltacht families. A framework for a plan to support families who decide to raise their children through Irish in the Gaeltacht is also detailed in the report.
The research, which was commissioned and funded by Tuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta in conjunction with the Department of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, gives a fresh insight into the number and location of families in Gaeltacht areas raising children through Irish along with a description of the opportunities and challenges encountered by parents as they attempt to navigate an Irish language path for their children. The culminating report is entitled ‘Staidéar ar Theaghlaigh atá ag Tógáil a gClann le Gaeilge Laistigh de Limistéir Oifigiúla Gaeltachta.’
The research reveals that only 2,889 families in Gaeltacht areas are raising their children through Irish on a daily basis, which constitutes a mere 23% of the total number of 12,586 families that live in the State’s official Gaeltacht areas. The research strongly recommends that every effort be made to provide support, guidance and advice to families raising their children through Irish so that they do not become discouraged as they try to pass on the Irish language to the next generation.
The report suggests that further research be done on families who do not speak Irish with their children to gain an insight into the reasons why families choose one language over another. The report recommends that it is important to set out a definite plan for the future, based on a frame of reference acknowledging the diversity of language practices in the Gaeltacht.
Launching the report today, Government Chief Whip & Minister of State for Sport, the Gaeltacht & Defence, Jack Chambers, TD, said: “This report will be extremely useful for the organisation itself as they broaden the activities they provide under the language planning process to families who are raising their children, or who would like to raise their children, through Irish in the Gaeltacht. The research will also be useful for other organisations who, in conjunction with Tuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta, provide language-based supports to Gaeltacht families. Tuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta is clearly undertaking important work supporting the language planning process and, as such, I was delighted to have been able to approve a grant up to €1.6m earlier this year for the organisation over a period of three years to enable them develop their supports for Gaeltacht families.”
At the launch in Baile na hAbhann, MIC Principal Investigator, Dr Neasa Ni Chuaig said: “These figures show the inclination towards English prevalent among Gaeltacht families and the support which will be required by families wishing to raise their children through Irish in Gaeltacht areas. This research provides pertinent insight into what is happening in Gaeltacht areas regarding family language practice, and we hope that this research will help Tuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta and other organisations provide support and assistance to families who wish to raise their children through Irish”.
The research team was led by Dr Neasa Ní Chuaig and included Dr Conchúr Ó Brolcháin, Dr TJ Ó Ceallaigh and Dr Karen Ní Chlochasaigh all members of MIC’s Department of Language and Literacy Education in the College’s Faculty of Education.
In welcoming the report, Head of Tuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta, Sorcha Ní Chéilleachair, noted that the research represented an important step in understanding language usage patterns in Gaeltacht families. “This research is very important for the work of Tuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta. For the first time we have reliable statistics for language usage in Gaeltacht areas based on the family unit and we hope to be able to use the findings to plan for future events, supports and research”.
Commenting on the significance of the research, Professor Eugene Wall, President of MIC said: “Mary Immaculate College seeks to foster an understanding of, and pride in, the Irish language and the culture around it. I welcome the launch of this important and innovative research and congratulate the research team on their excellent work. The report adds to the rich and vibrant tradition of research at MIC, which continues to shape education policy in both national and international contexts.”
The report “Staidéar ar Theaghlaigh ata ag Tógáil a gClann le Gaeilge Laistigh de Limistéir Oifigiúla Gaeltachta” is available at Taighde Teaghlaigh.
An executive summary of the study will be presented online by MIC researchers at 4-00pm, Wednesday, 04 August. Please register for the presentation here.
