FORAS PATRUNACHTA NA SCOILEANNA LANGHAEILGE

Foras Patrunachta Na Scoileanna Lán-Ghaeilge is the national patron body for Irish-medium primary and post-primary schools. Established in 1993, the organisation exists to nurture, develop and expand high-quality full-Irish education throughout the country, acting both as a school patron and as a management partner for its network of schools.

The patron provides a comprehensive suite of services to its 80 schools, which together educate more than 17,000 pupils across 23 counties and employ around 1,400 staff members. Key supports include the automatic registration scheme for new pupils, specialised funding for special-needs education, guidance on assessment processes, and the delivery of specialist classes and staff roles such as class teachers, special-needs coordinators and senior teachers. Regular publications, policy updates and news items keep schools informed of developments such as the "Mo Chiste don Todhchaí" automatic enrolment initiative and early-year funding for special-needs projects.

By offering coordinated administrative, pedagogical and strategic assistance, Foras Patrunachta ensures that Irish-medium schools can thrive and continue to provide a vibrant, fully Irish language learning environment for children nationwide.