A major gov.ie announcement marks a fresh push for Irish-language career development, with the launch of plans to transform Saoloibre.ie into a modern national guidance hub. The new investment signals a practical step toward connecting students, teachers and jobseekers with real education and employment pathways through Irish.
Announced by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, the project will see CareersPortal redevelop Saoloibre.ie with funding of €686,340 over four years. The upgraded platform is intended to become a central digital resource for anyone seeking Irish-language education and career opportunities, while also supporting wider public service language goals across Ireland.
Irish Language Careers platform gets major government backing
The redevelopment is being delivered through a partnership between the Department and An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG). Under the arrangement, 75% of the funding will come from the Department, with COGG contributing the remaining 25%.
The aim is to turn Saoloibre.ie into a more dynamic and accessible destination for:
- students exploring future study options
- career guidance teachers supporting learners
- families looking for Irish-medium education information
- jobseekers interested in roles where Irish is an advantage
- people seeking public sector career pathways
The platform will also include a dedicated section focused specifically on Irish-language education and work opportunities, helping users understand how language skills can be used beyond school and into long-term careers.
Why the Saoloibre.ie relaunch matters
This initiative is more than a website refresh. It forms part of the Action Plan for Irish Language Public Services 2026-2028 and supports the State’s broader ambition to build a more bilingual public service. The government has set a target that 20% of recruits to public bodies will be competent in Irish by the end of 2030.
That objective has implications across a wide range of agencies and departments, including the Department of the Taoiseach, Revenue Commissioners, Health Service Executive (HSE), An Garda Síochána and the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). As demand grows for bilingual services in areas such as Health, Education, Justice, Social Protection, Housing and Transport, access to clear career guidance in Irish becomes increasingly important.
Officials say the new resource will help raise awareness of modern and attractive career options linked to Irish, while encouraging continued use of the language in everyday professional life.
Key benefits expected from the project
- Better visibility for Irish-medium study and training routes
- Stronger career guidance tools for schools and educators
- Improved access to jobs where Irish-language skills are valued
- Support for public sector recruitment goals
- Greater confidence in Irish as a living working language
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How Irish Language Careers can support students and employers
CareersPortal, which already reaches more than two million visitors annually, is expected to bring scale and usability to the revamped Saoloibre.ie service. That means students will be able to research qualifications, scholarships, courses and professions through Irish in one place. Employers and public bodies may also benefit from a clearer pipeline of talent equipped with language competency.
For educators, the resource should make it easier to guide learners toward Further and Higher Education options, public service roles and specialist sectors where bilingual ability adds value. It also aligns with national policy efforts involving Education, Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Public Expenditure and Rural and Community Development.
Conclusion
The new Saoloibre.ie investment shows how digital tools can strengthen both language policy and workforce planning. By building a dedicated Irish Language Careers platform, the government and its partners are creating a clearer path from classroom learning to real employment opportunities. For students, teachers and jobseekers alike, Irish Language Careers could become one of the most useful gateways to future study, public service roles and a stronger bilingual Ireland.
Article/Image Courtesy: gov.ie
