asked the Minister for Defence if he will state the training or other courses carried out in the Defence Forces (a) entirely through the medium of the Irish language and (b) partly in Irish and partly in any other language; whether the courses are given to officers or to enlisted personnel; where the courses are conducted; the dates on which the current method of imparting instruction was adopted; and how the results compare with those obtained when the courses were conducted entirely in the English language.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Defence Forces' Training Courses.
(a) All training courses in 1st Western Battalion are conducted solely through the medium of the Irish language. A Young Officers' Course, at present in progress in the Military College, is also being conducted solely through the medium of Irish.
(b) All lectures given in the Cadet School, the Military College, are conducted through the medium of Irish, but instruction given to cadets in technical subjects (i.e., at the Artillery School, etc.) is conducted mainly in English. A recent refresher course in the Military College for officers in platoon weapons was conducted mainly in the Irish language and partly in the English language.
The training courses conducted in 1st Western Battalion are given to both officers and enlisted personnel. The training courses in the Cadet School, the Military College, are given to cadets, and other training courses in the Military College are given to officers.
The courses are carried out at the Military College, Curragh Training Camp, and in the 1st Western Battalion in Galway.
The current method of imparting instruction was adopted in the 1st Western Battalion from its inception over 30 years ago. In the case of the Military College, instruction to cadets was mainly through Irish during the period from 1935 to 1940, but, during the emergency and since, instruction was through English. The present system started in January, 1958.
The results of the instruction in the 1st Western Battalion have always compared favourably with those obtained from instruction in English. At this stage it is not possible to compare fully the results in the Military College with those obtained from previous courses, but the staff of the college believe that instruction given through the medium of Irish will be as effective as in English. When Irish was used as a medium of instruction in the college previously the results were satisfactory. The only course completed in the Military College since January last was the platoon weapons refresher course and the results were satisfactory.
If I understand the Minister's reply correctly, if one leaves out the Western Battalion whose courses were always done in Irish, the other courses are purely for cadets and officers. If that is so, will the Minister explain what purpose is being served if the men are not undergoing these courses and if they do not know Irish what is the object in having the officers' work done through Irish? Secondly, is the Minister in a position to give an assurance that the prospects of promotion among officers are not going to depend on proficiency in the Irish language?
Mr. Boland
With regard to the first part of the Deputy's supplementary—the object is eventually as far as possible to expand the use of Irish to other ranks in the Army. I have already corrected a misstatement with regard to the question of promotion. I have already made it quite clear that the promotion does not depend on a knowledge of Irish.
Is the Minister making it quite clear in his recruiting campaign, which I understand is taking place at the moment, that it is expected of the private now going into the Army that he will have a working knowledge of the Irish language? In view of the fact that pressure has been brought to bear on the officer personnel to speak Irish, is it made clear in the recruiting campaign that those who wish to join are expected to have such a knowledge of Irish——
Mr. Boland
It has not. It is not considered necessary. It is not a necessary qualification.
Surely, in view of the fact that a tremendous programme is being brought into operation to revive Irish amongst the officer personnel, it is appropriate to suggest that a similar programme be brought into operation so far as those who join the ranks are concerned?
Mr. Boland
Soldiers joining the ranks are expected to have an education up to the standard of the primary school leaving certificate and they would obviously have that standard of Irish. It is hoped that the officers will be able to improve their standard of Irish while in the Army.