Vol. 523 No. 5
75 D'fhiafraigh Mr. Kenny den Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíochta an bhfuil sé sásta le caighdeán múineadh agus labhairt na Gaeilge sna meánscoileanna; na tuairimí atá aige faoin Ghaeilge mar ábhar riachtanach do gach dalta; na moltaí atá aige faoi fhorbairt labhairt na Gaeilge as seo amach; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina leith. [21431/00]
Cuirtear an Ghaeilge ar fáil ag leibhéil éagsúla chun freastal ar an raon leathan cumais agus spéise atá i gceist sa chohórt daltaí.
Tugann na staitisticí a bhaineann le cúrsaí scrúduithe sa Ghaeilge le tuiscint go bhfuil ag éirí go maith ar an iomlán le foghlaim agus le múineadh na Gaeilge. Treisíonn an chomparáid idir torthaí na scrúduithe i gcás na Gaeilge agus na torthaí in ábhair eile leis an tuiscint sin. Ó tugadh isteach an teastas sóisearach agus ó leasaíodh siollabas na hardteistiméireachta, tá méadú suntasach tagtha ar chéatadán an chohóirt a sheasann scrúduithe ardleibhéil i gcomparáid le seanscrúduithe ardchúrsa na meánteistiméireachta agus na hardteistiméireachta.
Cuid d'ár gcóras oideachais le fada an riachtanas a bhaineann leis an nGaeilge agus le hábhair eile ar an gcuraclam. Is é cuspóir leis an riachtanas atá i gceist sna cásanna sin ná a chinntiú go bhfaighidh daltaí oideachas leathan cothrom.
Tá sé tábhachtach go dtuigfí go mbaineann an riachtanas i gcás na Gaeilge le staidéar a dhéanamh ar an ábhar sin. Is féidir teastas a ghnóthú sa seastas sóisearach nó san ardteistiméireacht gan grád a bhaint amach sa Ghaeilge.
Irish is offered at a range of levels in order to cater for a wide range of ability and interest among the student cohort. Statistics for examinations in Irish suggest that, on the whole, the learning and teaching of the language are successful. Comparative analysis of results in Irish and in other subjects supports this view.
Since the introduction of the junior certificate examination and the revision of the leaving certificate syllabus, there has been a substantial increase in the percentage of candidates taking higher level by comparison with the former higher courses in intermediate certificate examination and the leaving certificate examination.
Táim buíoch den Aire as an freagra a thug sé dom. Ó thaobh labhairt na Gaeilge de agus ó thaobh caighdeán labhartha na teanga, ag éirí as freagra a thug an tAire dom ar cheist Dála níos luaithe sa bhliain tá 3,791 múinteoir ag múineadh Gaeilge chuile lá suas le 8,000 uair gach lá. Ach tar éis dóibh an Ard Teistiméaracht a dhéanamh ní bhíonn cleachtadh nó suim ag cuid mhór de na daltaí sa Ghaeilge nó i labhairt na teanga. Bíonn cuid eile acu íontach maith. Cad é an tuairim atá ag an Aire ar na torthaí ag éirí ón Ard Teistiméaracht agus ag éirí ó labhairt na teanga? Cad é an tuairim atá aige ar dhátheangachas a bheith ag chuile mhúinteoir Gaeilge i scoileanna lán-Ghaelacha, i scoileanna sa Ghaeltacht agus i ngnáth mheánscoileanna ?
An bhfuil scrúdú ar bith déanta ag an Aire nó á dhéanamh aige ar an mbrú a bhíonn ar chuile dalta Gaeilge riachtanach a fhoghlaim sna meánscoileanna?
I will have to reply to the Deputy as Béarla. It is important to understand that the requirement in the case of Irish relates to the study of the subject. One can be awarded the junior certificate or the leaving certificate without achieving any grade in Irish. That has made the situation somewhat more simple for people who had a difficulty with Irish.
In regard to certificate examination results, it is generally felt that the junior certificate syllabus and the revised leaving certificate have led to an improvement in the learning of Irish as a greater number of students are taking the subject at higher level. On the percentage of students pursuing the higher leaving certificate course, 24% took Irish at higher level in 1990 and the figure has now increased to 31%. That represents an increase in the number of candidates to 16,955. The number of students pursuing the lower course has decreased accordingly. The number of students following the higher course at junior certificate level has increased from 30% to 40%. Some 9% of students are pursuing the new foundation level Irish.
Níor thug an tAire freagra ar na ceisteanna a chur mé air. The Minister did not refer to the questions I asked. There are some 8,000 Irish teaching hours every day in second level schools. Given the pressure on students to learn other modern European languages, is any study being carried out on the methods of teaching Irish and the results? Are any studies being carried out in regard to the pressures being placed on students arising from the fact that Irish is compulsory? In light of the revised curriculum, particularly in Irish, and the progression of students from primary to secondary schools, the Minister is now presiding over a situation where Gaeltacht schools and Gaelscoileanna at primary level are expected to implement a revised curriculum in the Irish language in the absence of any textbook, facility or teaching aid which would allow them to do that. It is utterly shameful that the Minister would attempt to preside over this hypocrisy at the highest level.
We have exceeded the time limit for this question.
I will be brief. I appreciate that a problem exists in regard to textbooks but that is being attended to. The special working group has drawn up an interim report which I expect to examine in the near future.
