merrion street

The Government Chief Whip and the Minister of State for the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Islands, Seán Kyne T.D. has announced today that he has approved a grant of €532,500 for Lárionad na Gaeilge, Maynooth University to conduct examinations for Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge (TEG) over the three academic years 2019/2020 to 2021/22.

TEG is an examinations system which allows the learner to achieve gradual fluency in the Irish language. It also provides proof of language competency to employers. There has been a significant increase in the TEG examinations system in recent years. 1,790 people took part in TEG examinations during the period 2018/19, an increase of 100%.

TEG examinations are provided in venues across Ireland and in venues abroad.  The examinations are available to applicants from various backgrounds - such as applicants for the Professional Masters in Education (Primary Teaching), the Bachelor of Education, the Masters of Education, degree students, those applying for jobs in the public sector, adult learners in Ireland and abroad, transition year students and students returning to teaching courses. 

In announcing the funding during his visit to Lárionad na Gaeilge, the Minister of State Seán Kyne TD said,

I am honoured that I am able to provide this funding for Lárionad na Gaeilge so that it can provide the TEG exams.  My Department has been funding TEG for more than 10 years now and I am delighted to hear that the system has expanded by 100% this year. This system is of unique importance because it provides proof to employers of a person's language competency. It is also a great opportunity for a large number of people to return to the education system years after having finished formal education.