Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 18 Oct 1994

Vol. 445 No. 9

Written Answers. - Oral Irish Competency Test.

Seán Haughey

Ceist:

248 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Education if EU and other foreign nationals are required to pass an oral Irish competency test before being allowed to teach in secondary schools in this country; if so, the reason for this; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that these applicants can experience difficulty in passing this test; and the plans, if any, she has to relax this requirement in view of the fact that teachers from the EU and other countries could enhance our educational system. [1465/94]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

A teacher in a secondary school must be registered to qualify for the payment of incremental salary. To qualify for registration, an applicant is required to pass an oral Irish competency test. However, a teacher may be appointed to a post in a secondary school for one year without holding a qualification in Irish.

It is the policy of my Department that all teachers should be suitably qualified in Irish. This position has been upheld as reasonable by the Court of Justice of the European Communities.

There are no plans at present to remove the general requirement in relation to competency in Irish.