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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 3 May 1933

Vol. 47 No. 4

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Primary School Infant Classes.

asked the Minister for Education whether in any primary schools the teachers are allowed to use the home language of the children as the language of instruction in the infant classes on condition that they also teach Irish for an hour a day to all the children in these classes; and, If so, whether he is prepared to grant similar permission for other schools in which the managers and teachers desire it.

I would refer the Deputy to the Introductory Notes to the Programme for Infants in National Schools, page 22 of the Report and Programme of the National Programme Conference. I am sending the Deputy a copy.

The official requirement of the programme is that the work of the infants' classes between the hours of 10.30 a.m. and 2 p.m. is to be entirely in Irish where the teachers are sufficiently qualified. All teachers holding bilingual or higher certificates are regarded as sufficiently qualified, but the possession of such certificates is not regarded as an essential qualification.

To meet the circumstances of the period of transition through which we are passing, a teacher who is able to teach Irish but is unable to use Irish as a medium of instruction is to teach the language as a subject for one hour a day at least, and is to use Irish as much as possible as the school language.

I am not prepared to waive the requirements of the programme in this matter.

Arising out of the Minister's reply, and on the assumption that he joins me in the desire to promote the Irish language, will he consider summoning the teachers of infants to a conference for the purpose of discussing with them the effect on the Irish language and on the education of infant children as a whole that the system which has been in operation for some years past is at present having?

Does the Minister not think that it would be in the best interests of education and of the Irish language if he would try to inform himself at the hands of informed persons?

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