asked the Minister for Education the measures she is taking to promote the teaching of Irish in our schools.
Written Answers. - Teaching of Irish.
49.
I would refer the Deputy to my replies given to Questions Nos. 2, 16, 17, 23, 25, 33, 40, 42, 47, 48, 50, 51, and 58 of 23 November 1988, and to Question No. 19 of 8 November 1988 in which I pledged my Department's support for the recommendations contained in a 14 point work plan presented to me by An Comhdhail Naisiúnta na Gaeilge. The main points of the plan concern the establishment of a planning and monitoring unit to oversee the implementation of the plan, the review of courses, the standards of Irish for those entering the teaching profession, inservice training, and the fostering of oral competence and a spirit of billingualism in schools.
In addition to these measures, in the case of national schools my Department provides a grant towards the running costs of all-Irish schools equal to 150 per cent of the normal capitation grant. The appointment of an extra teacher over and above the number allowable on the basis of the pupil/teacher ratio is also approved in certain all-Irish schools. The purchase of extra Irish reading material in schools, and the provision of filmstrips and tapes to accompany the course in conversational Irish in primary schools is also funded. My Department also operates a scheme of grants towards the cost of students' attendances at courses in the summer colleges in the Gaeltacht. Some 18,500 students avail of these courses each year.
I should mention also that there is specific reference to Irish in the terms of reference of the Primary Curriculum Review Body, the report of which I expect to receive later this year. I am satisfied in general that Irish is being taught with great care and enthusiasm in our post-primary schools at present. For this the teachers deserve great praise.
However, it has been a matter of concern for some time that the prescribed post-primary syllabuses in Irish needed to be reviewed. It was felt that they concentrated too much on the study of literature and that they paid insufficient attention to the development of oral and aural language skills.
I am happy to say that a major review of the Irish syllabuses is now under way. A new junior certificate syllabus in Irish has been prepared by the NCCA junior cycle course committee for Irish. This will be introduced to the schools in September 1989, and will be examined for the first time in June 1992.
This new syllabus in Irish puts much emphasis on the teaching of language skills, but without neglecting the study of literature of a style and level of language difficulty that is suited to the capabilities of the pupils. The new syllabus will also be more interesting for pupils, and more relevant to their needs. It will do much to enhance the teaching of Irish in the junior cycle.