Minister for Education and Youth Hildegarde Naughton has launched Irish for Parents, a new online hub to help parents and guardians support their children's Irish at home and in everyday life.

Developed by Gaeloideachas with support from Foras na Gaeilge, and funded by the Department of Education and Youth under the Action Plan for Irish in English-Medium Schools and the Policy for Irish-Medium Education outside of the Gaeltacht, the site consolidates practical guidance, activities and resources for families.

The hub was unveiled in Galway at an event co-hosted by St John the Apostle Knocknacarra National School and Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh, with TV presenter and influencer Síle Seoige joining the Minister for the launch.

Aimed at all households, the platform is designed to be accessible regardless of parents' level of Irish, offering step-by-step support to build confidence, create more opportunities to use the language and strengthen the link between home and school.

Speaking at the launch, the Galway-based Minister said: "I warmly welcome the launch of the new 'Irish for Parents' resource hub, which will support families to engage with and use Irish in everyday life.

"I am very keen to see more Irish being spoken and used in homes, schools and communities across the country. The Programme for Government contains a clear commitment to support and encourage the use of Irish, and I believe parents and families have a vital role to play alongside our schools in achieving that ambition.

"One of my priorities as Minister is to build greater confidence in spoken Irish among young people. We want students to leave school feeling comfortable and confident speaking Irish, not simply studying it. This new hub will provide practical, accessible resources to help families support Irish at home, regardless of their own level of fluency.

"By strengthening the connection between home and school, this initiative will create more opportunities for children and families to hear, speak and enjoy Irish together. Ultimately, I want every young person to develop a positive relationship with the Irish language and the confidence to use it in their daily lives." Bláthnaid ní Ghréacháin, CEO of Gaeloideachas, said: "'Irish for Parents' was created with one clear goal in mind: to support parents and guardians as they help their children learn and use Irish. We know that families come to Irish with different experiences, different levels of confidence and different needs. Some may have little or no Irish, while others are fluent speakers using Irish every day at home.

"This hub brings together practical information, guidance and support in one place, helping parents feel more confident and connected, whatever their own level of Irish. We hope it will become a valuable resource for families across Ireland and a positive support in homes, schools and communities."

Irish for Parents is now live at www.irishforparents.ie.

The initiative follows research with parents and a review of existing supports. It aims to make it easier to find and use Irish-language materials by hosting resources in a single location, including new content tailored particularly for early years and primary-school families. A core message is that parents do not need to be fluent to help their children learn and use Irish. The hub will be updated on an ongoing basis to keep it relevant and useful.

The platform is intended for families across all settings, including English-medium schools, Gaelscoileanna and Gaeltacht schools.

Gaeloideachas is the national support organisation for Irish-medium education, working with parents, schools, communities and education stakeholders through information, guidance, advocacy and practical supports. Foras na Gaeilge, established in 1999, promotes the Irish language across the island of Ireland and advises governments, public bodies and organisations on Irish-language matters.

The Department of Education and Youth's Irish-language policies seek to enhance the teaching, learning and everyday use of Irish. The Action Plan for Irish in English-Medium Schools (2025–2027) focuses on improving students' experience by promoting positive attitudes, expanding opportunities to speak Irish, ensuring access for all learners and providing practical supports for schools and teachers. The Policy for Irish-Medium Education outside of the Gaeltacht sets a vision that high-quality Irish-medium education is available to all in inclusive, multicultural settings, while the Policy on Gaeltacht Education underpins high-quality provision in Gaeltacht language-planning areas through targeted measures.