asked the Minister for Education the plans, if any, she has to change the regulations which provide that secondary school teacher candidates must pass an oral Irish examination even when they will not be engaged in teaching Irish subjects, in particular returned emigrants who have been teaching in other countries; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Secondary School Teachers Registration Rules.
222.
The conditions governing registration as a secondary school teacher are contained in the Registration Council's Regulations for the Register of the Intermediate School Teachers. The registration council are a statutory body consisting of representatives of the universities, school management and teacher organisations which was established under the Intermediate Education (Ireland) Act, 1914, with the duty of framing such regulations with the approval of the Minister for Education. The oral Irish requirement for registration is contained in regulations 2.111 of the regulations. The text of the requirement is:
"Qualification in Irish. — An applicant for registration must produce evidence of having a competent knowledge of the Irish language. For the purpose of this regulation a competent knowledge of the Irish language shall mean the power to carry on through it ordinary intercourse with pupils and in the general life of the school; and to speak the language with such fluency and correctness as will afford a reasonable hope that the applicant will, with experience, be able to use it as a teaching medium. Evidence of this qualification shall be afforded by tests carried out either (a) by the Department or (b) by an Irish university, a representative of the Department being associated with the university's examiner for the purpose."
There are no proposals for an amendment to this requirement.