Cecilia Keaveney
Ceist:131 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to the six point demand from Gaelscoileanna (details supplied). [12514/98]
Written Answers. - All-Irish Primary Schools.
A submission was received in my Department last year from Gaelscoileanna, the umbrella body for all-Irish primary schools, seeking commitments in relation to school recognition, accommodation, support structures, funding and teacher training. My position is as follows: it is my policy to support the establishment of Gaelscoileanna in areas outside the Gaeltacht, where sufficient demand for such facility is demonstrated and where there exists no alternative within a reasonable distance. Practical support for Gaelscoileanna is already demonstrated through the payment of increased capitation grants for pupils in these schools, allowing a more favourable pupil teacher ratio compared with ordinary schools and paying allowances to teachers who teach through Irish. Furthermore, the Department provides increased refund of rental of accommodation costs and grants 100 per cent of the cost of site acquisition and the provision of new buildings.
I am aware of the need to solve the accommodation problems of Gaelscoileanna countrywide. The key considerations in that regard are the availability of capital funds and the competing needs of other schools. In 1998, the level of funding allocated to primary school capital has been increased to £39.3 million. This allocation covers the building, equipping and furnishing of all primary schools and represents an increase of 42 per cent over the corresponding 1997 allocation. Increased funding has enabled the construction of four new school buildings for Gaelscoileanna and architectural planning is under way in respect of a number of other projects. Overall, I am satisfied that significant progress is being made in this area.
In relation to a planning and support structure for all-Irish schools, the Education (No.2) Bill, 1997 makes specific reference to the establishment of a body to plan and co-ordinate the provision of Irish-medium textbooks and learning aids, the advise the Minister on policy matters related to Irish-medium education, to provide support services to schools through the medium of Irish and to conduct research into any related matters. As the Bill progresses through the legislative process, I will give consideration as to how this provision might best be implemented. A scheme of annual grants was established by my Department in 1993 to assist management bodies of primary schools in their work. ‘Foras Pátrúnachta na Scoileanna LánGhaeilge', the patron body for a number of Gaelscoileanna, receives financial assistance under this scheme.
With regard to teacher training, the position is that Irish primary school teachers are class teachers as distinct from individual subject teachers. For this reason, all teachers seeking recognition must achieve a qualification which will enable them to teach all aspects of the curriculum, including Irish, and would therefore be regarded as suitable for employment in Gaelscoileanna.
I should also mention that the Commission on School Accommodation Needs is at present examining the most appropriate criteria for the recognition and resourcing of national schools, including all-Irish schools. As part of its remit, the commission is carrying out a review of existing policies, structures and funding for this area in the course of preparing recommendations for submission to me. Policy in relation to Gaelscoileanna will be reviewed in the light of the Commission's recommendations.