asked the Minister for Education the individuals and experts with whom he had consultations before announcing the introduction of the subject Irish Studies.
29.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Studies.
28.
asked the Minister for Education why he has not introduced the subject Irish Studies.
Mr. R. Burke
Preliminary investigations of the curriculum area of the proposed new subject show that it overflows the traditional subject-boundaries and as such will necessitate extensive innovation in content, methodology, and assessment.
Outline planning has been completed and detailed proposals are now being prepared. I am glad to say that as a result of my invitation to the public, some valuable suggestions have been received. It is also proposed to have formal consultations in the near future with extra Departmental experts and organisations. A representative syllabus committee will then be asked to make final recommendations on the content of the course.
I do not wish to appear carping but the Minister's officials seem to be developing a habit of not replying to the question put. The Minister gave a good deal of information, I submit, in regard to what is proposed to be done in the development of the course but the question asked him specifically the individuals and experts with whom he had consultations before announcing the introduction of this subject and I do not think the Minister has replied to that question.
Mr. R. Burke
The statement I made on 5th April was as follows:
I have also under active consideration the possibility of introducing into the post-primary curriculum a course of Irish studies which, while comprehending Irish language and literature, will not have a restrictive linguistic orientation and will encompass such matters as social history and traditions, as well as the evaluation and appreciation of the various cultures which have gone into the making of modern Ireland. Such a course, I consider, could be of value to all students but particularly to those with little aptitude for language learning.
I was personally responsible for putting to the officials of my Department at the time the idea that we should investigate the possibilities, as I put it here, of introducing this subject into the curriculum. Deputy Tunney, in the course of the Education debate here, tried to give the impression, to use his own favourite phrase, that I had already decided on this. I was only three weeks a Minister at this time and I never gave the impression that I had already thought out fully the subject "Irish Studies" and I quoted the actual statement made on 5th April, which put matters beyond doubt.
Arising out of the Minister's lengthy reply, am I to take it from what he said that the correct answer to the question asked by Deputy Tunney is "None", that he consulted no individual and no experts before announcing the introduction of the subject "Irish Studies"?
Mr. R. Burke
I consulted the officials of my Department; anything up to 12 or 13 persons were involved. I had available to me information going back as far as 1957 when people, such as the present Archbishop of Tuam, advocated this very thing. This subject was already being taught in the National College of Physical Education, or one of the colleges, in Limerick. It was not a totally new idea but the suggestion that it should be put on the post-primary course was new and it emanated from me and I am now in process of consultation with the people involved.
May I ask why the Minister did not give that reply to the question he was asked? It takes a long time to extract the right answer.
Question No. 29, please. We have taken a long time in dealing with this and I have shown a great deal of latitude, possibly because there are so few questions today, but we must get on.
I appreciate that, but the Minister has quoted an extract from a speech he made on 5th April. I always thought quotations were out of order at Question Time, but this may be the Minister's right. Does he not agree that, in suggesting the Opposition party does not seem to understand the situation as outlined in his various speeches earlier on, one of the problems the Opposition have is that we have to rely on newspaper reports, or had at that stage, of his statements and the Minister made no facilities available because all his statements are made outside the House——
The Deputy is embarking upon argument now.
——to inform his opposite number on this side of what he is actually saying and we were relying on newspaper reports and were not furnished with copies of these statements?
We must pass on. Question No. 29.
I think the Minister should reply.
Mr. R. Burke
I am sorry. I replied to Questions Nos. 28 and 29 together but I, unfortunately, omitted to ask for your permission. I should have said before my reply that, with your permission, I propose to answer Questions Nos. 28 and 29 together. I am sorry I did not say that.
Is it agreed that Questions Nos. 28 and 29 have been taken together?
I do not wish to delay the House, but I am trying to cast my mind back to the reply the Minister gave. Would he repeat that portion of the reply in relation to Question No. 29?
Mr. R. Burke
Outline planning has been completed and detailed proposals are now being prepared. I am glad to say that, as a result of my invitation to the public, some valuable suggestions have been received. It is also proposed to have formal consultations in the near future with extra Departmental experts and organisations. A representative syllabus committee will then be asked to make final recommendations on the content of the course.