The Higher Education Authority (HEA promotes the use of the Irish language across Ireland’s higher education and research system. The Higher Education Authority Act 2022 highlights the role of the HEA in promoting the use of Irish in higher education

Working in partnership with government, higher education institutions (HEIs), and sectoral bodies, the HEA plays a key coordinating and funding role in a range of initiatives that strengthen Irish‑language provision, build capacity, and enhance the use of Irish within the sector. The HEA manages funding for initiatives such as, the Advanced Irish Language Skills, a programme to develop graduates with expertise for key professions, while the provision of funding for Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge ensures the continued growth of Irish-medium education and research, including in Gaeltacht regions.

The following initiatives are managed by Policy & Strategic Planning to deliver on policy priorities.

Gníomhaí Gaeilge

Since 2022, the HEA has funded Gníomhaí Gaeilge, a national initiative coordinated by Conradh na Gaeilge and Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn (AMLÉ). The aim of this scheme is to promote the Irish language in third level institutions throughout the country by supporting student events, clubs and societies that operate through the medium of Irish.

Gníomhaí Gaeilge focuses on:

• Developing Irish language skills among students involved in clubs and societies.
• Providing mentorship and structured training to students in higher education to promote and develop opportunities to use the language within higher education.
• Encouraging the daily use of Irish within higher education.

The initiative plays an important role in supporting student‑led activity and fostering Irish‑speaking communities on campus. For more information on the launch of this initiative, view the following news piece.

Mo Thráchtas i mBeagán Focal (5‑Minute Thesis Competition)

In November 2025, for the first time, the Higher Education Authority ran the Mo Thráchtas imBeagán Focal competition, which is a communication competition for postgraduate students. This competition is based on the My Thesis in 3 Minutes concept with students presenting their research through the Irish language.  Participating students have five minutes to present their research to a non‑specialist audience. The competition is open to postgraduate students from all disciplines across higher education in Ireland.

Key features include:

• Delivery entirely through Irish
• A strong focus on research communication skills

For more information on the inaugural event, see Mo Thráchtas i mBeagán Focal.

National Research on Irish language provision in higher education

In the first quarter of 2026, The Higher Education Authority, through the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, granted research funding to the University of Galway to conduct national research on the Irish language at Third Level. This project will conduct research into the current provision of Irish language courses and courses through the medium of Irish in higher and further education. The research will also address the key objective of the Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021 to ensure that at least 20% of public sector recruits will be proficient in Irish by the end of 2030. The research project at the University of Galway, which is expected to be completed by May 2027, is underway, with a postdoctoral researcher recruited to progress the research.

The findings of the research will inform future policy development and support the strategic advancement of Irish in higher education.

Further information

For more information on Irish language activities and initiatives funded by the HEA, email: policy@hea.ie