Special educational needs in bilingual primary schools in the Republic of Ireland

While the Irish language (Gaeilge) is the traditional language of Ireland, it is spoken on a daily basis by a decreasing minority of people. There is an increasing trend for parents to send children, whose first language is English, to Irish-medium schools, where the language of instruction is Irish. Little research has been undertaken regarding special educational needs (SEN) provision in Irish-medium schools. This paper reports on a study that involved a national survey of two types of Irish-medium schools in Ireland. It examined SEN provision and teaching practices in these schools. It investigated the prevalence of various types of SEN amongst Irish bilingual learners, and the benefits of, and the challenges arising from, bilingual education for these learners. It explored the experiences of teachers in meeting the needs of bilingual learners with SEN and the training needs of these teachers. The study reports on standards of good practice in relation to SEN provision that are in keeping with national guidelines. It also identified advantages and challenges for particular learners with SEN in Irish-medium schools that are likely to be equally applicable to bilingual learners within Ireland and in other jurisdictions.