Minister Calleary approves €1.9m for the Language Assistants Scheme
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From: Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht
- Published on: 15 August 2025
- Last updated on: 15 August 2025
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.”