Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 12 Jul 1990

Vol. 401 No. 6

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EC Lingua Programme.

John Bruton

Question:

6 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education if arrangements exist for co-operation in the teaching of Irish or Gaelic between educational authorities in Ireland, Scotland and Nova Scotia where the language is still spoken; and, if not, if she will initiate joint projects, under the EC Lingua Programme, with the Scottish Department of Education on the teaching of Irish in conjunction with Scots Gaelic, or on the exchange of students and teachers concerned with these languages.

Tom Enright

Question:

12 Mr. Enright asked the Minister for Education if arrangements exist for co-operation in the teaching of Irish or Gaelic between educational authorities in Ireland, Scotland and Nova Scotia where the language is still spoken; and, if not, if she will initiate joint projects, under the EC Lingua Programme, with the Scottish Department of Education on the teaching of Irish in conjunction with Scots Gaelic, or on the exchange of students and teachers concerned with these languages.

Paul McGrath

Question:

37 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Education if arrangements exist for co-operation in the teaching of Irish or Gaelic between educational authorities in Ireland, Scotland and Nova Scotia where the language is still spoken; and, if not, if she will initiate joint projects, under the EC Lingua Programme, with the Scottish Department of Education on the teaching of Irish in conjunction with Scots Gaelic, or on the exchange of students and teachers concerned with these languages.

Joseph Doyle

Question:

47 Mr. Doyle asked the Minister for Education if arrangements exist for co-operation in the teaching of Irish or Gaelic between educational authorities in Ireland, Scotland and Nova Scotia where the language is still spoken; and, if not, if she will initiate joint projects, under the EC Lingua Programme, with the Scottish Department of Education on the teaching of Irish in conjunction with Scots Gaelic, or on the exchange of students and teachers concerned with these languages.

Michael Creed

Question:

65 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Education if arrangements exist for co-operation in the teaching of Irish or Gaelic between educational authorities in Ireland, Scotland and Nova Scotia where the language is still spoken; and, if not, if she will initiate joint projects, under the EC Lingua Programme, with the Scottish Department of Education on the teaching of Irish in conjunction with Scots Gaelic, or on the exchange of students and teachers concerned with these languages.

Enda Kenny

Question:

69 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Education if arrangements exist for co-operation in the teaching of Irish or Gaelic between educational authorities in Ireland, Scotland and Nova Scotia where the language is still spoken; and if not, if she will initiate joint projects, under the EC Lingua Programme, with the Scottish Department of Education on the teaching of Irish in conjunction with Scots Gaelic, or on the exchange of students and teachers concerned with these languages.

Louis J. Belton

Question:

82 Mr. Belton asked the Minister for Education if arrangements exist for co-operation in the teaching of Irish or Gaelic between educational authorities in Ireland, Scotland and Nova Scotia where the language is still spoken; and, if not, if she will initiate joint projects, under the EC Lingua Programme, with the Scottish Department of Education on the teaching of Irish in conjunction with Scots Gaelic, or on the exchange of students and teachers concerned with these languages.

Mrs. O'Rourke

I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 12, 37, 47, 65, 69 and 82 together.

I am not aware that any formal co-operation arrangments of the type mentioned in the question are in operation.

The Lingua Programme was adopted by European Education Ministers in May 1989 and it is designed to promote foreign language competence in the European Community. The language covered by the programme are the nine official languages of the Community as well as Irish and Luxembourgish. The latter two languages were included on the basis that they are national languages of the two member states concerned. Financial aid is not available under the Lingua Programme for the promotion of languages which have the status of regional languages in a European Community context and, accordingly, funding would not be available for joint projects involving areas outside the European Community nor, it appears, for any such projects involving Scots Gaelic.

Financial aid could be available under the Lingua Programme for teachers, students and pupils who could be deemed to be teaching or learning Irish as a foreign language to enable them to spend a period of time in this country on in-service training, study or exchange as appropriate.

Mr. J. Bruton

Would the Minister not consider it worth her while taking an initiative, notwithstanding all the bureaucratic obstacles she has referred to, to promote exchange at school level and otherwise between those who are concerned with Irish and those who are concerned with Scots Gaelic, in view of the fact that they are intrinsically the same language? Will she agree that, in the light of the increasing internationalisation of society in Ireland, if we wish to make Irish relevant in the eyes of students, one way of doing it would be to show that it is a key to other cultures apart from our own, and in this case the culture of Scotland and the culture of Nova Scotia?

Mrs. O'Rourke

It is certainly the culture of Scotland and I am sure the Deputy is right about Nova Scotia. In the context of settlers and so on that would be so, but I am thinking about the European context.

Mr. J. Bruton

Gaelic is still spoken in Nova Scotia.

Mrs. O'Rourke

I know, but I am thinking in the European context of the Scottish link. A committee has been set up in Ireland to formalise arrangements for the Linqua Programme and setting it in train for next January. I would suggest that the cultural background to Irish is exemplified in many other countries and through many other dialects. All would have had the same origins. In that context and the context of Europe in general, I will look at that matter.

Mr. Browne

(Carlow-Kilkenny): Will the Minister not agree that she is telling us the Irish language is going to be useful for students and teachers and that we can discuss it among ourselves, but when it comes to a language it is not covered in the EC but it will be fitted in as a few pence thrown to keep everybody happy if there is something there? If we are serious about the Irish language, is it not time the Irish language was accepted as a language at European level?

Mrs. O'Rourke

The languages covered by the Lingua Programme are the nine official languages as well as Irish and Luxembourgish. That is agreed. Under these questions we are discussing extending the Lingua Programme to take in other countries which have a dialect derived from Irish.

Mr. J. Bruton

People say Irish and Scots Gaelic are the same language.

Mrs. O'Rourke

It is recognised internationally.

Mr. Cotter

Would the Minister not agree that the attitude of post-primary students in particular, and even national school students, is very much anti the Irish language as it is taught in schools, and that they take it more or less under duress? There is a large body of opinion to back that up. Will she agree that the national aspiration is very much an aspiration at this stage and is stagnating? Will she not agree——

An Ceann Comhairle

Not too many questions.

Mr. Cotter

——that Question No. 6 would, if implemented, give an international flavour to the language and would give it a new status and image and a totally new dimension?

An Ceann Comhairle

Please, Deputy Cotter.

Mr. Cotter

Would the Minister agree?

Mrs. O'Rourke

As I said to Deputy Bruton and Deputy Browne, there is merit in looking at it. With regard to the status of Irish and the Deputy's concern that students are taking Irish because they are compelled to do so, the primary curriculum review just issued made very relevant points about how Irish should be much more attractively taught. The junior certificate courses for Irish now are broader, more open and not as tied to text and poems which might seem difficult and complex to young people. Strides are being made within the curriculum. That is the way forward. The point of the seven questions here is one I will ask the Lingua Committee to look at.