asked the Minister for Education whether his attention has been directed to the report of the proceedings of Roscommon County Council as published in the Roscommon Herald for March 23rd, from which it appears that a statement was made by a member of the Council to the effect that in the National Schools we have compulsory Irish from six to 14 years of age; during those years a child can learn nothing but Irish, then when he has finished he has to go back to the Infants' Grade to learn English; whether he can state if this assertion is related to the facts; whether he has received any complaints that the teaching of the Irish language to the extent now required is militating against the efficient teaching of other school subjects, and whether he is prepared to consult representatives of the teachers' organisation and of the parents in regard to the application of the school programme.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Teaching of Irish.
The statement in the Deputy's question is entirely at variance with the facts. Under the programme in operation in national schools, English, which is an optional subject in Standard I, is an essential subject in all standards from the second standard upwards. I am sending the Deputy a copy of the programme.
The programme in operation prior to the current school year was introduced on the report of a Committee which included representatives of the managers, I.N.T.O., and of public bodies, and the amended programme, in operation since the beginning of the current school year, was submitted before issue to the representatives of the managers and the I.N.T.O.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, is it not true that in all standards of the primary schools at the present time all subjects are taught through the medium of Irish?
No.
Is it not true that the policy of the Department is to promote, in all primary schools, the teaching of all subjects through the medium of Irish——
Yes.
——and that in a great many primary schools that curriculum is being carried out? Is it not true that in a great many primary schools in the Gaeltacht, outside the Gaeltacht and Breac-Ghaeltacht, instruction in all subjects is being given through the medium of Irish?
Certainly not.
Does the Minister say that in no school all subjects are being taught through the medium of Irish?
The Deputy should put down a question.
Surely, Sir, this is a proper supplementary question arising out of the Minister's reply? Is it not true that in a number of schools outside the Gaeltacht and Breac-Ghaeltacht all subjects are being taught through the medium of Irish?
A very small number of schools. If the Deputy would take the trouble of reading the annual report of the Department of Education, or if he would go to the trouble of reading what I stated on the occasion of the Estimates, and which I may have to state again in order to enlighten him further, he would see that only in a very small proportion of the schools in the Gaeltacht is the teaching of subjects through the medium of Irish being carried out.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, I gather that English is an optional subject in the infant grades. Is it or is it not the policy of the Department to discourage the taking of English in the infants' grade?