Robert Dowds
Question:1358. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of hours per week that are spent teaching Irish in primary schools. [32323/15]
View answerTuesday, 22 September 2015
Questions (1358)
Written answers
The 1999 Primary School Curriculum provided that, where Irish is the first language being taught in a school (as in the case of Gaelscoileanna or in schools located in the Gaeltacht), there should be four hours instruction per week, and 3 hours per week where there is a shorter day for the infant classes. Where Irish is the second language being taught, the suggested minimum timeframe is 3.5 hours per week for senior classes, and 2.5 hours per week for infant classes with a shorter day. However, in accordance with the National Strategy to Improve Literacy and Numeracy among Children and Young People 2011-2020, Departmental Circular 0056/2011 provides that, with effect from January 2012, all primary schools are required to increase the time spent on the development of literacy skills, particularly in the first language of the school (which in the case of Gaelscoileanna and most Gaeltacht schools is Irish), by one hour overall for language (Irish and English) per week.