Minister for Education and Youth Hildegarde Naughton has announced the commencement of the Oileáin Árann Pilot Youth Work Initiative. This project marks the first time that consistent, island-based youth services will be delivered through the medium of Irish across all three Aran Islands.

The four-year pilot is funded by the Department of Education and Youth, in collaboration with Galway and Roscommon ETB and the Muintearas UBU Your Place, Your Space service. Representing a €300,000 investment, the initiative will fund three part-time youth workers. Each worker will be based within their own island community to provide locally led supports "as Gaeilge."

Minister Naughton said: "This initiative is about ensuring that young people on the Aran Islands have access to the same opportunities and supports as their peers across the country, while also recognising and celebrating the unique strengths of island life and the Irish language.

"Delivering youth work trí Ghaeilge helps to strengthen wellbeing, identity and connection, while building on the strong sense of community which already exists across the islands. "By investing in locally-based youth workers, we are creating safe and inclusive spaces where young people can connect, develop confidence and access support within their own communities."

The initiative was shaped by consultations with schools, community stakeholders, and local services. It aims to address specific challenges faced by island-based youth, such as isolation and the lack of accessible early intervention or non-therapeutic mental health supports. By providing services on-site, the project seeks to reduce the current reliance on mainland or digital services.

A critical aspect of the programme is its cultural grounding; all activities are conducted through Irish to ensure they remain relevant to Gaeltacht life. Additionally, the pilot includes a built-in evaluation framework designed to provide data on delivering island-based services, which will help guide future government policy.

The overarching goal of the Oileáin Árann Youth Work Initiative is to empower young people to build resilience and confidence within their own inclusive communities, ensuring that neither language nor geography acts as a barrier to vital support.