Vol. 435 No. 10
4 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Education if she has satisfied herself with the range of modern European languages available in Irish schools and with the level of language proficiency among students in post-primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
46 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Education if she has satisfied herself with the range of modern European languages available in Irish schools and with the level of language proficiency among students in post-primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
53 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Education if she has satisfied herself with the range of modern European languages available in Irish schools and with the level of language proficiency among students in post primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
68 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Education if she has satisfied herself with the range of modern European languages available in Irish schools and with the level of language proficiency among students in post-primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
I intend to take Priority Question No. 4 and Questions Nos. 46, 53, and 68 together.
I am very conscious of the need for the development of foreign languages in schools, particularly at post-primary level.
Regarding primary level, the Deputy may be aware that the Primary Curriculum Review Body Report considered the question of the introduction of modern continental languages in the senior classes of primary school but recommended against it because of the demands it would put on the curriculum.
The Green paper proposed the introduction of an awareness programme of foreign languages in senior classes at primary level and, on examination of the views received in this regard, I am having the matter further explored in the context of the White Paper.
There is provision for the teaching of French in virtually all second-level schools and there has been a significant increase in the number of pupils taking German. The numbers taking Spanish and Italian are, however, quite small.
In all, in excess of 80 per cent of post-primary students take at least one foreign language. Our efforts at present are directed at increasing the participation of students in learning German, Spanish and Italian, rather than in extending the range of languages.
Overall, I am satisfied that teaching and learning methods are improving. There is increased emphasis in developing oral-aural competencies. A survey by the inspectorate on the teaching of French indicated many positive features. A similar survey on the teaching of German is about to commence. The situation is kept under constant review.
What happened today in this House is appalling. Deputy Gilmore and I asked two brief questions and Deputy Quill has been virtually cut out of the proceedings.
If the Deputy does not want the answers, that is fine. He got the information he was seeking.
This will never happen again. The Minister could have given a concise reply in two minutes.
It took the Minister 25 minutes to answer the questions.
Wearing out with waffle is not the way to proceed in this House. It is outrageous.
Is it not a fact that Ireland is at the bottom of the Community foreign language league, that our students, in terms of usable language skills and an ability to speak the language, have a lower level than even the notoriously monolinguistic United Kingdom? Will she agree that in terms of the ability to speak a language, it is quite obvious there is something fundamentally wrong with our approach to language teaching and that the performance of students in the leaving certificate is embarrassing by comparison with other countries? If we are to compete with other economies within the EC, and it has been proven that of the smaller successful economies such as Denmark, Belgium, Luxembourg and Holland, those prolific in terms of language ability succeed, will the Minister agree that this problem must be addressed?
I am not aware of the survey to which the Deputy refers. If he has any information on league tables, I would be glad if he would make it available to me. It would be useful to have such information for the ongoing survey being undertaken by my Department's inspectorate. I can give the House the numbers of students who are proficient in languages on leaving school but that might lead to further delay.
The time available to us for dealing with Priority Questions is quite exhausted. I am proceeding to other questions.
I am entitled to ask one priority question only.
I am calling Question No. 8. I am sorry, Deputy, but the Chair does his best in these circumstances.
It is very unfair to Deputy Quill, my fellow Cork Deputy.
On a point of order——
The Deputy should not be raising points of order now.
It does not matter what county I represent. I would have thought — I am sorry to speak when the Chair is standing — that since I am entitled to one priority question only provision would be made to give me my fair allocation of time. Five questions were tabled and 20 minutes allocated to deal with them. It should have been possible to allocate the time.
The Deputy, and the House, know well that the Chair constantly reminds Members that we are dealing with questions nominated for priority and asks Members to co-operate with him in ensuring that the four or five questions involved are dealt with in a fair and equitable manner. Obviously, he does not succeed.
May I ask you again, a Cheann Comhairle——
A Cheann Comhairle, on a point of order——
There are a number of points of order.
Since I am the Member who stands to lose her time will the Chair acknowledge that the system in practice is not working. Perhaps we should investigate putting in place a better and fairer system.
If there is anything fundamentally wrong with the procedure for dealing with questions nominated for priority it is a matter for the House. Members are supreme in such matters; they may vary the system as they like and I will faithfully implement whatever they decide.
I am afraid this Minister has caught the disease of evading questions.
I am sorry, a Cheann Comhairle, I did not——
I am sorry, I have given the Deputy some latitude. I cannot explain any more to the Deputy. The Chair does his best in these matters.
The arrogance of the Minister in dealing with this House is a farce.
That is an extraordinary thing to say.
The Minister is turning Question Time into a complete farce.
Please, Deputy Shatter, you may not interrupt proceedings in that manner from a seated position.
We are all anxious to co-operate with the Chair and no fault is attributed to him for the fact that questions are not being answered. What are we to do with a Minister who gives long answers to questions she has not been asked and then will not answer questions she is asked?
That is a legitimate point.
I am now proceeding to Question No. 8.
Will the matter be examined by the Committee on Procedure and Privileges?
That is for you people to decide.
As Chairman of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges is the Chair taking on board the points made by Members?
Members are represented on the Committee on Procedure and Privileges and it is up to them to take an initiative on the matter.
We will arrange an all-party initiative.
