Inspections of Courses in Irish-language Colleges (Coláistí Gaeilge)

The Inspectorate of the Department of Education and Skills (DES), at the request of The Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, conducts an annual programme of inspection on a sample of courses organised by individual Irish-language colleges. These Irish-language courses for post-primary students and senior primary pupils are generally three-weeks in duration and are mainly organised during the summer months.

Inspections of Irish-language courses assure the quality of the education provided for students and provide advice and support to the teachers, principals and the management committees of colleges. Inspection reports are based on the inspector’s observation of teaching, learning and cultural activities, interaction with students, discussion with management, and inspection of relevant documentation. At the end of each inspection, the inspector provides the teachers and the principal of the Irish-language course with feedback on the quality of educational provision in the setting.

Inspection reports on courses provided by Irish-language colleges are subject to the normal quality assurance procedures of the Inspectorate. The draft report is issued to the chairperson of the Irish-language college steering committee for factual verification, and later, the final report is issued for college response. Subsequently, the Irish and English versions of the inspection report are published on the website of the Department of Education and Skills (DES) and on the website of The Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.