Thug POBAL faoin taighde seo mar gheall ar ganntanas sonraí bunlíne ar fáil i dtaca le hoideachas, traenáil agus stádas fostaíochta iardhaltaí de chuid an Ghaeloideachais i mBéal Feirste (agus in áiteanna eile), cé, ag an am go raibh sé 45 bliana ó osclaíodh doirse an chéad bhunscoile, Bunscoil Phobail Feirste. Dar le POBAL, b' iomaí forbairt dhearfach a tharla ó shin, agus go raibh sé soiléir go bhfuil an Gaeloideachas ina ghné thábhachtach, sheanbhunaithe dár gcóras oideachais, cé go mbíonn go fóill easpa tacaíochta straitéisí ann dó. Thiocfadh le taighde dírithe ar bhailiú na sonraí bunline cuidiú le dea-chleactas a fhorbairt i bpleanáil straitéiseach agus in acmhainniú an phobail sa chathair, Béal Feirste. Mar sin, i 2017-18, dhírigh POBAL ar thaithí iardhaltaí de chuid an Ghaeloideachais, maidir le traenáil, breisoideachas agus fostaíocht. Bhí an taighde seo á mhaoiniú ag Comhairle Bhéal Feirste faoina chlár Acmhainniú an Phobail, agus chuir sé áis thábhachtach eolais ar fáil d’oideachasóirí, d’áisíneachtaí stáit, do ghrúpaí Gaeilge, do sholáthróirí traenála agus daoine nach iad. Chuidigh sé le hacmhainniú an phobail agus le neartú na hoibre leanúnaí atá ar siúl, deiseanna le réamhphleanáil a dhéanamh, leis an mhargadh fostaíochta a fhorbairt agus le cumas a mheaitseáil le riachtanais fostaíochta uilig san áireamh. 

POBAL undertook this research because of a lack of base line data regarding the education, training, and employment status of former pupils of Irish Medium schools in Belfast (and elsewhere), in spite of the fact that it was at that time more than 45 years since the first Irish medium primary school, Bunscoil Phobail Feirste opened its doors.  POBAL felt that there had been many positive developments since then, and it was clear that Irish Medium education is an important and established part of our education system, in spite of continuing scarcity of strategic support. Research aimed at gathering base line data can further develop best practice in strategic planning and capacity building within the city of Belfast. Therefore, in 2017-8, we focussed on examining the training, further education and employment experiences of former Irish Medium pupils in Belfast. This research, carried out with funding from Belfast City Council under its Capacity Building programme, provided a valuable information resource for educationalists, government bodies, Irish language groups, training providers and others. It helped to build capacity and strengthen ongoing work, including opportunities for forward planning, building the local labour market and matching capacity with employment opportunities.